KonamIII's Anything Goes Reviews

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

KonamIII's Anything Goes Reviews

Welcome to "KonamIII's Anything Goes Reviews" Thread. I'll give this a shot and join in. About over two years ago I had a little blog for a couple of months but I haven't updated anything since 2012 so I thought it was nice seeing this section here on Pulse. I will do reviews for just about any songs or albums including compilations. Since it's anything goes, it will be about anything that I feel like reviewing in any genre of music old and new.

To start off, let's start off with something old and with a bang:


Artist: Nelly Furtado
Album: Loose
Year Released: 2006

Tracklist:
1. Afraid (featuring Attitude)
2. Maneater
3. Promiscuous (featuring Timbaland)
4. Glow
5. Showtime
6. No Hay Igual
7. Te Busqué (featuring Juanes)
8. Say It Right
9. Do It
10. In God's Hands
11. Wait for You
12. All Good Things (Come to an End)
Bonus Track:
13. Te Busqué (featuring Juanes) [Spanish Version]

Let me start out by saying that I was a fan of Nelly Furtado's work ever since her "Whoa, Nelly!" and her underrated "Folkore" era. But the "Loose" album is what took her to the next level. This was the album where she scored her first number one U.S. hits "Promiscuous" and "Say it Right". It was around this time when producer Timbaland was on a roll scoring hit after hit with artists like Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland himself. The first time I heard "Promiscous" I immediately loved it and had to get the album. It was also the last album that I ever bought as a physical copy. In 2006, that was the time when I said to myself, "Welcome to the digital age".

And what an album it was since I enjoyed almost every single one of it. The first track "Afraid" featuring Attitude started off with that guitar hook and the trademark Timbaland beat that a lot of people know and love. Next up is "Maneater". I was a bit disappointed with how "Maneater" did as a single in the U.S. chart and didn't reach the top 20 on the Mainstream top 40 chart and didn't reach the top ten on the Hot 100. It did perform way better in Europe though. The song had an influence of Hall & Oates and Eurythmics work and you know damn well that I love the 80's!!!! And I also enjoyed the music video. Do I have to mention how awesome "Promiscuous" is? Next up is "Glow" which I personally didn't care much about as well as "Showtime" but was alright.

Next on the list is "No Hay Igual" in which Pharrell Williams introduced Nelly Furtado with reggaeton. And a great idea it was as Nelly sings in spanish and does a little portuguese rap. I do prefer the remix with reggaeton artist Calle 13 though. And speaking of spanish, the next song is one of my favorites of the album "Te Busque" featuring Colombian singer Juanes. There are two tracks of this song in the album in which she sings in english and the bonus track in spanish while Juanes in both versions sings the chorus in spanish. And Nelly Furtado and Juanes are no strangers of working together since they both did a song called "Fotografia" in 2003. That acoustic guitar in "Te Busque" is marvelous.

Next up is "Say it Right" which reached number one in the U.S. and the productions for this is high quality and still holds up very well today. There were some cool influences here from Eurythmics keyboard sound which is eerie in a good way to the excellent chord progression and Nelly's vocal range. A mysterious sounding and lyrical song which I love very much. "Do It" was also a good tune but I prefer the remix with Missy Elliott. This was the song that had some plagarism controversy. "In God's Hands" is a personal one for Nelly since the song was about the breakup of the father of her daughter. And "Wait For You" was a little combo of Timbaland's sound with some middle eastern sound influence which was OK but nothing special.

And last but not least is "All Good Things (Come To An End)" which was such a beautiful song but so tragic because it flopped in the U.S. It peaked low on the Hot 100. The harmonizing of the song is none other than Coldplay's Chris Martin. The song reminded me of Furtado's earlier work and even the music video was beautiful.

Overall a solid album.

The Konami Code: ^^A^^

[Lahey's Lucky Star]

OMG

Juan Carlos

[🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾]

Oct 13, 2014 13:39:44 GMT -5 ♛ The Manticore ☯ said:

Next up is "Say it Right" which reached number one in the U.S. and the productions for this was high quality and even today still holds up very well. There were some cool influences here from Eurythmics keyboard sound which is eerie in a good way to the excellent chord progression and Nelly's vocal range. A mysterious sounding and lyrical song which I love very much.

I still love that one. It's easily her best single.

Oct 13, 2014 13:39:44 GMT -5 ♛ The Manticore ☯ said:

And last but not least is "All Good Things (Come To An End)" which was such a beautiful song but so tragic because it flopped in the U.S. It peaked low on the Hot 100. The harmonizing of the song is none other than Coldplay's Chris Martin. The song reminded me of Furtado's earlier work and even the music video was beautiful.

This was the single I was waiting for from the album. I was crushed that it underperformed as much as it did. It makes me crazy when many regard this as a "bad single" and a "bad song" because of its underperformance

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Artist: Madonna
Song Title: The Power of Good-Bye
From The Album: Ray of Light
Year Released: 1998
Music Video

One of my favorite years in my life is 1998. Finished High School, living the good life in New York and of course memories of great music and pop culture. It was also the year that Madonna released her seventh studio album "Ray of Light". The album that really showcased her vocals. My favorite song from that album is "The Power of Good-Bye" which was the fourth single from "Ray of Light". It's a quality electronic/pop song with elements of subgenres (ballad, ambient, drum & bass, etc.). As you can tell by the title of the song, it's about a breakup.

Shockingly, it didn't reach the top ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (peaked at #11) and reached #17 on the R&R CHR/POP chart. At least it reached the top ten in many european countries. Color me surprised. One of the cool thing about the song was that the song was used to promote the J.J. Abrams WB Network series "Felicity" starring Keri Russell throughout the first season. It matched the tone and vibe of the show nicely. As for the music video being controversial, who cares. Some critics are so sensitive. I saw it as a rebirth. Croatian actor Goran Višnjić is in the video. You might recognize him as Dr. Luka Kovac in the TV hit series "ER".

While most Madonna fans will remember "Frozen" and "Ray of Light" from the album, I'll remember it for "The Power of Good-Bye". Definitely underrated compared to the other singles from the album although depending where you lived in 1998, I heard it quite a bit on radio in the fall of 1998 in the big apple as far as I remember.

The Konami Code: ^^A^^

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Coming soon will be the review of Armin van Buuren's fan-voted greatest hits collection called "Anthems: Ultimate Singles Collected".

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Artist: Orbital
Song Title: Halcyon + On + On
From the Album: Orbital 2
Year Released: 1993
Youtube Video Link

One of my favorite song of all time is "Halcyon + On + On" by the english EDM duo band Orbital. Such an amazing atmospheric song. Interestingly enough, the original Halcyon is dedicated to one of Orbital members mom due to her addiction to the Triazolam drug (also known as Halcion). This song was unique since it used a backmasked sample of Opus III "It's A Fine Day". The original is by Miss Jane. The ATB remix of "It's a Fine Day" is also very good. As some of you may know the singer of Opus III is Kirsty Hawkshaw who has provided vocals in the EDM world such as Tiesto, Fragma, etc. "Halcyon + On + On" is more well known than the original "Halcyon" since it was in movies such as "Mortal Kombat", "Mean Girls", "Hackers" and "CKY2K".

"Halcyon + On + On" was also more memorable because of it's beautiful atmosphere and was a more upbeat remix. I have to say that I don't like songs that are almost 10 minutes long but in this case the song was a perfect length. Another remix that I was fine being almost 10 minutes long is the Above & Beyond remix of Fragma's "Everybody You Need Me". I have listened to it a lot and I never get tired of it. I have songs where I like but after a few weeks, get tired of it and move on but this wasn't the case with "Halcyon + On + On". It feels timeless to me and when the song starts, I want to listen to it peacefully without any interruptions. Very rare that a song does that to me. I just relax and feel the music in my mind.

Definitely my favorite from Orbital but I also recommend their other early work like "Chime", "The Saint" and more.

The Konami Code: ^^A+^^

[Lahey's Lucky Star]

"Oh look, Junior Plastics."

[🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾]

Oct 14, 2014 10:25:27 GMT -5 ♛ The Manticore ☯ said:

Artist: Madonna
Song Title: The Power of Good-Bye
From The Album: Ray of Light
Year Released: 1998
Music Video

The Konami Code: ^^A^^

This one of many, many highlights on the Ray Of Light album. I love the production, the lyrics, the vocals, and the music video. I do wish she had performed it live more than she did (I recall only a single live performance of this).

Oct 14, 2014 11:57:44 GMT -5 ♛ The Manticore ☯ said:

Artist: Orbital
Song Title: Halcyon + On + On
From the Album: Orbital 2
Year Released: 1993
Youtube Video Link

One of my favorite song of all time is "Halcyon + On + On" by the english EDM duo band Orbital. Such an amazing atmospheric song. Interestingly enough, the original Halcyon is dedicated to one of Orbital members mom due to her addiction to the Triazolam drug (also known as Halcion). This song was unique since it used a backmasked sample of Opus III "It's A Fine Day". The original is by Miss Jane. The ATB remix of "It's a Fine Day" is also very good.

The Konami Code: ^^A+^^

I love this song too! Opus III's "It's A Fine Day" was one of my gateway songs into Dance music. The funny thing was that I didn't know the name of the artist until the Miss Jane version became really popular in the late 90s with the ATB, CJ Stone, and Jonathan Peters remixes (I love the ATB version, but I am also fond of the CJ Stone mix as it has a beatless section identical to the one that opens the Opus III version). I had bought one of those Bravo Hits compilations (it was the German equivalent to the NOW That's What I Call Music compilations) that had it and when the song came on, I recognized the vocals. I soon discovered it was the Opus III version that I had been hooked on all those years ago.

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Artist: Kyla La Grange
Song Title: Cut Your Teeth
From The Album: Cut Your Teeth
Year Released: 2014
Official Music Video of Kygo Remix

I never heard of UK singer/songwriter Kyla La Grange before until I heard the Kygo remix of "Cut Your Teeth" on Sirius BPM. And I immediately loved it. The original is good but Kygo who's a Norwegian remixer, added an extra icing to the cake with "Cut Your Teeth". What's even cooler is that I played this song over the weekend at my parents place and they both liked it. The Kygo remix did remind a bit of Jan Hammer's music composition work of TV hit Miami Vice in the 80's. Especially Jan Hammer's "Candy". Kygo remix of "Cut Your Teeth" also had a nice bounce to it and makes you feel like your in Ibiza with it's nice atmosphere and melodic hook. This style of house is known as Tropical House. It's not hard pounding or anything but more like in the lines with Robin Schulz work.

The lyrics of the song to me is kinda sad because she keeps mentioning her lover never knowing her name. Part of the lyrics like "You cut your teeth on the lack of answers, and you come back home and it don't feel the same, well I bled words onto a page for you and you never knew my name" is powerful stuff there. Can't help but feel like sharing the emotion with her. I will check out her other songs when I get a chance since she has a lovely voice which sounds angelic. I'm always a fan of female singers with this kind of vocals. And I am glad that I discovered this song. It seems like the song is doing well in Nordic part of Europe in countries like Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden and others. And I'm hoping The Kygo remix does well on dance radio in the United States.

Overall this could easily be one of my favorites of 2014 and I recommend checking it out if you haven't.

The Konami Code: =^A^=

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Artist: Brad Fiedel
Album: Terminator 2 - Judgment Day: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Year Released: 1991

Tracklist:
1. Main Title (Terminator 2 Theme)
2. Sarah on the Run
3. Escape from the Hospital (and T1000)
4. Desert Suite
5. Sarah's Dream (Nuclear Nightmare)
6. Attack on Dyson (Sarah's Solution)
7. Our Gang goes to CyberDyne
8. 'Trust Me'
9. John and Dyson into Vault
10. SWAT Team Attacks
11. 'I'll Be Back'
12. Helicopter Chase
13. Tanker Chase
14. 'Hasta La Vista, Baby' (T1000 Freezes)
15. Into the Steel Mill
16. Cameron's Inferno
17. Terminator Impaled
18. Terminator Revives
19. T1000 Terminated
20. 'It's Over' ('Good-Bye')

Now be honest, you didn't see this coming did you? As the title of the thread says, anything goes. This time it's a movie soundtrack to one of my favorite movie of the 90's. The soundtrack for "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" which was released in 1991. Brad Fiedel's music composition work in this film does feel more timeless than the first 1984 film while the latter was more new wave with 80's synth feel to it. And of course it does because the first film was released in 1984. You can't help but notice how memorable the main theme is and I remember how my heart pounds when I was in the movie theater as a kid. One of my favorite main theme movies in history. The whole soundtrack has an atmospheric, metallic, industrial sound with some pounding drums and percussions. "Our Gang Goes To Cyberdyne" is one of those as well as "Into The Steel Mill".

Tracks like the "Helicopter Chase" and the "Tanker Chase" are so thrilling and fun to listen to while "Escape from the Hosptial" and "I'll Be Back" is so eerie it gives me goosebumps. I wouldn't listen to it before I go to bed. "Desert Suite" is something of pure genius. The guitar and electronic with ambient sound captivates that feeling of loneliness and being lost. It's always interesting how a track with no words or lyrics gets that feeling inside you. "Sarah's Dreams" is another one where it feels like the nightmare might become a reality. The pounding drums and atmosphere of "Trust Me" is a bit similar to the Main Title theme which is just as good. The "T1000 Terminated" has that accomplishment sound while "It's Over (Goodbye)" feels emotional just as the title of the song as the T-800 (Arnold) said his goodbyes to John & Sarah Connor.

Brad Fiedel has done some good work for movies in the past especially in the 80's and 90's and this soundtrack is one of those. Brad also worked with Hall & Oates in the past which is interesting.

The Konami Code: #<A->#

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Artist: Prince & The Revolution
Album: Purple Rain
Year Released: 1984
Label: Warner Bros. Records

Tracklist:
1. Let's Go Crazy
2. Take Me with U
3. The Beautiful Ones
4. Computer Blue
5. Darling Nikki
6. When Doves Cry
7. I Would Die 4 U
8. Baby I'm a Star
9. Purple Rain

This is my first review of an 80's album and what better way to start off with the classic "Purple Rain". The album was the sixth album by Prince and is considered his best and most memorable of all time. And there is a film of "Purple Rain" starring Prince himself. I got "Purple Rain" for my birthday years ago and it was around this time in November. I already knew and heard "Purple Rain" way before but never got a physical copy for it. One of my friend in high school would talk about the movie and album sometimes back in the 90's and was considered one of her favorites and I can see why. Even one of my co-worker in one of my old job would bring the CD to work. Can't deny the impact it's made.

"Purple Rain" has nine songs on it and I liked everything on the album. My personal favorites were "When Doves Cry", "I Would Die 4 U" and "Let's Go Crazy". "When Doves Cry" was a big hit for Prince and reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the R&R CHR/POP chart. I consider it one of his trademark songs. Once the guitar solo starts in "When Doves Cry", OMG you know what's coming. The drum machine in the song which uses the Linn LM-1 as well as a few of his other songs were very unique at it's time as well as the synthesizer solo. "I Would Die 4 U" is an uptempo song with new wave/synthpop elements. IMO this song should've had a higher peak at least a top five (reached number 8 on the Hot 100 and number 7 on the R&R Pop chart) but oh well, at least it was a top ten. Prince is known for having cryptic meanings in his songs and in one of those VH1 shows of classic songs a long time ago, "I Would Die 4 U" was about god. Funny how other people interpreted it as something else with part of the lyrics like "I'm not a woman, I'm not a man" if you know what I mean. ;) One issue I have with my physical copy of the track on CD is that the song doesn't finish and was cut short almost towards the end. Don't know if it's just my copy or a manufacturing error. I had to get the digital version of the song that's complete. There was something similar to this with the Ace of Base Greatest Hits CD with one of their most famous songs came out messed up.

"Let's Go Crazy" is a fun track and is the opening track of "Purple Rain". This was as huge as "When Doves Cry" and reached number one on both the Hot 100 and the R&R Pop chart. The opening in the song is unique since it had that funeral sound to it and then gets really interesting as the song progresses to drum machine, rock, heavy guitar, bass and synths. If you want to know what classic is, this is it. "Purple Rain" is another classic song. This was more gospel combined with rock/pop. This song had a good delivery emotionally and that lone guitar hook was off the charts. The song was also huge but was just so close to reach number one on the Hot 100 but did reach number one on the R&R Pop chart. "Take Me With You" was the last single of the album. This was more of a duet with Apollonia who was romantically linked to Prince in real life back then and she was also on the "Purple Rain" as a love interest in the movie as well. The rest of the songs of the album "The Beautiful Ones", Computer Blue", Darling Nikki & "Baby I'm A Star" were fun to listen to.

I do recommend checking out the movie just to listen to Prince & The Revolution's performing the songs since he puts on a good show although the storyline in the film isn't really anything special. Still a fun movie to watch just for the music. As for the "Purple Rain" album, three words to describe it is "AN EPIC CLASSIC".

The Konami Code: ^^A^^

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Artist/DJ: Armin van Buuren
Album: Armin van Buuren – Armin Anthems (Ultimate Singles Collected)
Label: Armada Music
Year Released: 2014

Tracklist
1. Armin van Buuren feat. Trevor Guthrie – This Is What It Feels Like (03:24)
2. Armin van Buuren feat. Sharon Den Adel – In And Out Of Love (03:00)
3. Armin van Buuren vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Not Giving Up On Love (02:53)
4. Armin van Buuren – Ping Pong (02:58)
5. Armin van Buuren – Blue Fear (03:41)
6. Armin van Buuren feat. Laura V – Drowning (Avicii Radio Edit) (03:24)
7. Armin van Buuren feat. Justine Suissa – Burned With Desire (Rising Star Radio Edit) (03:00)
8. Armin van Buuren – Hystereo (02:41)
9. Armin van Buuren – We Are Here To Make Some Noise (03:05)
10. Armin van Buuren – Communication (03:19)
11. Armin van Buuren feat. Susana – Shivers (03:01)
12. Armin van Buuren feat. Miri Ben-Ari – Intense (02:53)
13. Armin van Buuren feat. Nadia Ali – Feels So Good (03:09)
14. Armin van Buuren feat. Racoon – Love You More (03:44)
15. Armin van Buuren feat. Lauren Evans – Alone (03:18)
16. Armin van Buuren feat. Ray Wilson – Yet Another Day (03:27)
17. Armin van Buuren feat. Jan Vayne – Serenity (02:57)
18. Armin van Buuren & DJ Shah f/ Chris Jones – Going Wrong (03:31)
19. Armin van Buuren – Save My Night (02:50)
20. Armin van Buuren – Sail (02:55)



First things first. I stan for Armin van Buuren. He's my most played artist on my Last.fm account and has the most number ones on my personal chart. That shouldn't come as a surprise. Armin van Buuren has stood with the test of times and has been DJing and producing for about 20 years and has been voted DJ Mag’s #1 DJ more than anyone in history. When I heard about this singles collection, I knew it would be a good one. What's interesting about this album is that it's a fan voted compiled of fans top five favorite Armin songs of all time all combined through social networks, his radio shows, sites and other sources through ballots. And all of them are awesome although there were a few of my faves that didn't make it which I'll explain later in the review.

The first two tracks are my top two favorites. "This Is What It Feels Like" featuring Trevor Guthrie is the song that was an international hit and charted in many countries including the United States. It was his first crossover top 40 hit in America and his first Hot 100. It's impressive considering that the song didn't have an adds date. It was certified gold and platinum in other countries and even was nominated for a grammy on best dance song. The song was also a top 10 hit in Canada and the UK and was number two in his native homeland the Netherlands. If you want to know the real story behind "This Is What It Feels Like", check out this short video here. A friend of Trevor Guthrie was diagnosed with brain tumor which is sad. No surprise that the song spent over a year on my personal chart. Released in 2008 from his Imagine album "In And Out Of Love" featuring dutch singer Sharon Den Adel of the band Within Temptation is equally as awesome. It's a trance song with some breakbeat elements and the chorus vocals of Sharon is beautiful. This song has over 140 million youtube views and maybe it could've crossed over here since I remember hearing it my local CHR/POP station years ago to my surprise.

"Not Giving Up On Love" with english singer Sophie-Ellis Bextor came out in 2010 from his "Mirage" album. It's a really well produced song and peaked at number three on the U.S. Hot Dance Airplay chart. While it charted in several european countries, it didn't chart high but it was a popular trance song in dance radio. "Ping Pong" is a fun song and yes it has some Martin Garrix "Animals" influence drop but was more trancey and a bit more edgier IMO. The music video is fun to watch and reminds me of that Ping Pong movie "Balls Of Fury" that had Christoper Walken and Maggie Q in it. "Blue Fear" is a personal favorite of mine in the 90's and was sort of the breakthrough for Armin van Buuren in the DJ world. This instrumental trance song was his first UK chart debut in the top 50. It's so eerie and melodic and I love that trance synth. The next one is "Drowning" featuring Laura V and I'm glad they picked the Avicii mix. Definitely better than the original. This next one is my top three and it's "Burned With Desire" featuring english singer Justine Suissa who also provided vocals for Above & Beyond's Oceanlab project. I also like the Ronski Speed mix but I'm glad it was the Rising Star mix. This was a top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart and was popular on WKTU in 2004 back in the day.

"Hystereo" is his current song and already it's on the compilation. I was a bit surprised by this but the fans has spoken. I was expecting older song of his to make it like "Sunburn", "Fine Without You" or last years "Beautiful Life" instead of his latest. "We Are Here To Make Some Noise" is a soccer anthem and Armin van Buuren is a big soccer fan and I always see him rooting for Holland on his facebook page. And it's a bit more trouse which Armin himself doesn't like that term seeing one of his interviews with Paul van Dyk. "Communication" is a pure early 2000 trance song and I love it. The piano melody, powerful synth, and uplifting feel was so well put that prior to "This Is What It Feels Like", it was his highest peak in the UK Singles Chart and reached the top 20 back in 1999. "Shivers" from 2005 is also great and features dutch singer Susana while "Intense" has some classical music elements which he performed at the Holland King Coronation in the Netherland's which was nice. And long story short, the King and his Queen Máxima had asked Armin to perform.

"Feels So Good" features one of my favorite singer Nadia Ali and it's a bit more laid back compared to other Armin songs. The music video is nice and has some 007 style to it. "Love You More" features dutch rock group Racoon and the trance production for it is phenomenal and very hard pounding. "Alone" features Lauren Evans which was released as a single early this year. Her vocals were great and the production was equally as good. When I got the "Intense" album, I had a feeling this would be a future single. This was a top 10 on the U.S. Hot Dance/Mixshow airplay chart as well as the All Access dance chart. This next song I absolutely adore. It's "Yet Another Day" featuring Scottish singer Ray Wilson. This was Armin's trance spin on Ray Wilson's original "Another Day". What a sound it is! It was perfect. Can't believe it came out in 2002 and I still listen to it till this day. "Serenity" is a nice trance instrumental and it feels like out of this world. "Going Wrong" is a collaboration with Roger Shah and singer Chris Jones. It has some mainstream and rock potential elements combined with Balearic trance which Roger Shah is known for. "Save My Night" also came out earlier this year as a single and it's groovy while "Sail" was beautiful sounding and takes you out of this world just like "Serenity".

Now I was disappointed that "The Sound Of Goodbye" wasn't in this collection although maybe it's because it was a trance group that Armin was part of and Elles De Graaf was the vocalist. I mean he created Perpetuous Dreamer after all. The Above & Beyond remix of "The Sound Of Goodbye" is my favorite. There was also a song called "Spanish Love" and one of Armin's alias early in his career is El Guitaro which I also like and very obscure. I think it could've been more than 20 songs in this collection but overall almost all of my favorites are in here. It came out a few days ago and there's even a Video MegaMix that I posted above which Armada uploaded on their youtube channel of all the songs on this singles collection.

The Konami Code: ♥♥A♥♥

SPOILER: Click to show

{}surfy hitseeker. Mikey Albie Zeebz 🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 Flip H.

[Albie]

Great review Konami! Overall, I felt it was a strong collection, especially given that it was fan-voted. I was SUPER surprised to see "The Sound of Goodbye" not make the cut - that's probably in my top 5 Armin songs. I also expected to see "Fine Without You" on here. Of course, that opener is flawless - you know how I feel about TIWIFL :)

"Going Wrong", "Not Giving Up On Love" and "Burned With Desire" and, of course, "Drowning" are my next favorites. Agreed that the Avicii remix was the right one to include. I am sad that one of my personal favorites was not included. I LOVE "Youtopia".

Great review my friend!

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Nov 11, 2014 13:32:44 GMT -5 Albie said:

Great review Konami! Overall, I felt it was a strong collection, especially given that it was fan-voted. I was SUPER surprised to see "The Sound of Goodbye" not make the cut - that's probably in my top 5 Armin songs. I also expected to see "Fine Without You" on here. Of course, that opener is flawless - you know how I feel about TIWIFL :)

"Going Wrong", "Not Giving Up On Love" and "Burned With Desire" and, of course, "Drowning" are my next favorites. Agreed that the Avicii remix was the right one to include. I am sad that one of my personal favorites was not included. I LOVE "Youtopia".

Great review my friend!

Thanks albie. Oh yes "Youtopia" featuring Adam Young. I like that one too. You know I would've taken out "Save My Night" and put "The Sound Of Goodbye" instead but it's fan voted. And yes at that opener of "Fine Without You". So flawless.

It would've been nice to see Armin's collaborations on this collection with System F's "Exhale" and Armin & Tiesto Alibi's "Eternity".

[hitseeker.]

Great review Konami, got me interested in checking the album out!

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Nov 11, 2014 14:25:00 GMT -5 hitseeker. said:

Great review Konami, got me interested in checking the album out!

Thanks hitseeker. Check out the Video Megamix of all the songs in less than 15 minutes which should decide if you want to check out the whole album. :)

[Flip]

Great review. I will listen to this soon.

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Nov 11, 2014 14:34:53 GMT -5 Flip said:

Great review. I will listen to this soon.

Thanks. You gotta represent the Netherlands. :) So many great dutch DJ's/producers in your country.

[hitseeker.]

Nov 11, 2014 14:34:51 GMT -5 ♛ The Manticore ☯ said:

Nov 11, 2014 14:25:00 GMT -5 hitseeker. said:

Great review Konami, got me interested in checking the album out!

Thanks hitseeker. Check out the Video Megamix of all the songs in less than 15 minutes which should decide if you want to check out the whole album. :)

I thought about doing that, but since I'm not familiar with several tracks, I decided I want to listen to them for the first time from beginning to end instead of my first listen being of a snippet on the megamix, haha

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Nov 11, 2014 14:39:12 GMT -5 hitseeker. said:

I thought about doing that, but since I'm not familiar with several tracks, I decided I want to listen to them for the first time from beginning to end instead of my first listen being of a snippet on the megamix, haha

Good point.

[Flip]

Nov 11, 2014 14:37:39 GMT -5 ♛ The Manticore ☯ said:

Nov 11, 2014 14:34:53 GMT -5 Flip said:

Great review. I will listen to this soon.

Thanks. You gotta represent the Netherlands. :) So many great dutch DJ's/producers in your country.

that's right EDM equals Dutch

[H.]

Great review. Since I love Ping Pong and This Is What It Feels Like I am probably going to check out this album.

[♛ The Manticore ☯]

Nov 11, 2014 16:15:55 GMT -5 H. said:

Great review. Since I love Ping Pong and This Is What It Feels Like I am probably going to check out this album.

Thanks. Great to see you love "This Is What It Feels Like" and "Ping Pong". Hope you like the album from his past work to present. :)