Code Name: Password:
A Lively Mind

Pop ALBUM REVIEW

A Lively Mind
Paul Oakenfold
Release Date: June 06, 2006
Rating:
 
 
by Jim Harrington
LiveDaily Contributor

The product is different, but the result is the same. Paul Oakenfold, an artist best known for spinning, producing and remixing, releases an album of original compositions that will make you want to get on the dance floor.

The folks at Maverick, Oakenfold's label, are referring to A Lively Mind as an "artist album." That basically means that Oakenfold is creating the music instead of just shaping it. It's his second so-called artist album, following 2002's Bunkka.

A Lively Mind is a worthy successor to Bunkka., though there's very little on it that can compare to the rush of the earlier album's "Starry Eyed Surprise" or "Ready Steady Go."

Although Oakenfold is a man of many talents, he's not going to try and tell you that he's a singer. Just like on Bunkka., which featured the likes of Ice Cube, Nelly Furtado and Perry Farrell, A Lively Mind spotlights many guest vocalists.

The most memorable spin on the mic this time around comes courtesy of, we kid you not, Brittany Murphy. The film star, known for such flicks as 8 Mile and Sin City, does a great job with the heady rave "Faster Kill Pussycat," which opens the album.

Other highlights include the muscular "No Compromise," featuring Spitfire, and the explosive "Set It Off," where house-music legend Oakenfold jams with hip-hop icon Grandmaster Flash.

Although a few of the collaborations with guest singers on the new album are memorable, Oakenfold saves his best moves for the non-vocal numbers. For instance, the cleverly titled "Save the Last Trance For Me" is an absolute slice of dance-floor heaven.



Article used with permission from LiveDaily.



Go to iLike page

Features | Album Reviews
001

Rockstar

 | West Hollywood, CA

002

Rabbit

 | Venice, CA

003

ladeka

 | Los Angeles, CA

004

Woo

 | Venice, CA

005

MobyDick

 | Los Angeles, CA

006

Revolver

 | West Hollywood, CA

007

JedEye

 | Los Angeles, CA

008

Rule4080

 | Jamaica, NY

009

Yardie

 | West Hollywood, CA

010

astrogirl

 | Los Angeles, CA

Singer Chaka Khan embraces funk, not GOP

Pop diva Chaka Khan doesn't have a lot of regrets -- and little wonder with eight Grammy Awards on her mantle.

Get Prince's Next Single FREE

Prince is giving away the first single from an upcoming album to mobile phone users as the rock star, who is also launching a perfume, looks to create a buzz around his "Planet Earth" album, due out in weeks.

More Feist

An interview with Feist from Pitchfork...

Maroon 5 debuts at No. 1

Pop band Maroon 5's first album in four years opened at No. 1 on the U.S. charts Wednesday, while veteran rocker Ozzy Osbourne scored a personal best with his first release in six years.

George Michael faces June 8 sentencing

George Michael, who has pleaded guilty to driving while unfit, had several drugs in his system when he was arrested, a court heard Wednesday.

Tests showed the 43-year-old singer had taken a therapeutic quantity of an antidepressant as well as gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, Prosecutor Andrew Torrington told Brent Magistrates' Court in London.

Lohan checks into rehab after car crash

Lindsay Lohan has checked into rehab. Again. The move followed a weekend during which the wild-child actress, who is a month shy of her 21st birthday, crashed her Mercedes, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and was photographed slumped in the passenger seat of a friend's car.

Britney Spears says she "hit rock bottom" in rehab

Pop singer Britney Spears says she "truly hit rock bottom" during a stint in rehabilitation this year but told fans she did not blame her behavior on alcohol or depression.

"I was like a bad kid running around with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)," she wrote on her Web site, www.britneyspears.com. "I confess, I was so lost."

Justin Timberlake Forms Record Label

Justin Timberlake has joined forces with a rival music company to launch his own label, Tennman Records

Lohan is photographed slumped in car

Lindsay Lohan, who was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Saturday in Beverly Hills, Calif., was photographed less than 48 hours later slumped in the passenger seat of a car.

Web site X17online.com posted the photos Monday, which it said were taken early that morning at a gas station after the 20-year-old actress left the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, Calif., with a girlfriend.

The Police begin reunion tour in Canada

The Police kicked off its reunion tour before a sold-out crowd of 20,000 — not bad for a group playing its first stadium in more than 20 years.

Fans took to their feet and sang along as Monday's night's show opened with "Message in a Bottle," the band's 1979 smash hit.

Lindsay Lohan Arrested On Suspicion Of DUI

Lindsay Lohan was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence early Saturday morning after her Mercedes convertible struck a curb on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Mainstream success finds Buble

For crooner Michael Buble, success in America has been a long time coming.

Sure, Buble received media attention and did well internationally with his 2003 self-titled debut album, and his retro style drew favorable comparisons to greats like Frank Sinatra. But his success abroad did not translate into big record sales in the United States.

NYC Popfest... already started!

If you're in NYC or planning on a visit this Memorial Day long weekend and you're a lover of pop music (even if you won't publicly admit it!), you should check out the Popfest. In venues all over the city and then some!

TEKI X LIO

have you been searching for that video for Teki Latex's solo project? i found it! follow the link, scroll down a bit and push play to see the promo clip for "Les Matins de Paris"

Blake Lewis EP on iTunes

This EP is a must-have for all Blake fans. It has five tracks:

I Need to Know
Love Song
Time of the Season
When the Stars Go Blue
You Give Love a Bad Name

I especially love his rendition of The Cure's Love Song.

Jordin Sparks EP on iTunes

I predicted Jordin Spark would win American Idol from the moment she sang "A Broken Wing". Now you can enjoy this song and four others when you download the EP off of iTunes.

Adam Levine Loses His Balls

It seems that someone has offered to loan Maroon 5 singer, Adam Levine some balls untill his finally drop.

Maybe one day he will start to sound like a man.

cover versions

on tuesday, CopyRight blogged a bunch o covers

michel gondry

EW interviewed director Michel Gondry

Britney Spears loses support of gays

Britney Spears did an impromptu lip-sync/dance performance at Mansion Saturday night and the crowd, full of "trannies and gay guys," didn't appreciate it much, instead criticizing her hair extensions and the way she was dressed.

Shakira's Summer Wedding?

Latin pop star Shakira will wed fiance Antonio De La Rua in September, according to reports.

An Interview with Sir Paul McCartney

His new release Memory Almost Full comes out June 5 on Hear Music.

Seven weeks of Prince in Hollywood?

Prince is expected to announce a seven-week residency at the historic Roosevelt Hotel that will include a heaping helping of music, dining and VIP guests, sources say.

Oops... Britney Does It Again

Britney Spears was left red-faced during a 14-minute concert in Florida Saturday night when her tape skipped, revealing once and for all the pop superstar is lip syncing her comeback.

Maroon 5 just wants to entertain

Adam Levine has an uneasy feeling about the world. That slight angst is audible throughout Maroon 5's sophomore album "It Won't Be Soon Before Long."

Mayer aiming for good times on summer tour

John Mayer is predicting a "laid-back" kind of summer when he hits the road on June 1 for a nine-and-a-half week continuation of his "Continuum" tour.

Jennifer Hudson At Long Beach Pride

The organizers of Long Beach Pride scored a huge coup by getting Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls and American Idol) to perform on their Main Stage on Sunday, May 20th at 9:30pm!

Clinton Asks Supporters to Name That Tune

Blazing a trail down the information superhighway toward Pennsylvania Avenue, Sen Hillary Clinton, is in the market for a theme song to blare from her presidential campaign bus.

George Michael Quits Britain

Singer George Michael said he may quit Britain to escape the relentless media attention on his troubled private life.

Hilton's jail term cut to about 23 days

Who said money can't buy anything?

Paris Hilton will serve about half of her 45-day jail sentence and will be separated from the general inmate population, authorities said Wednesday.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8