Above

Awesome production by the artists in Anjuna. Great new sounds for the end of 2008, USA release date was pushed back a month or so but well worth the wait. If you're wanting new sounds and beautiful vocals and love the above and beyond sounds, you'll love this 2x disc release. Money very well spent and a great addition to any dance music lover !

An amazing mix set! I have all their mix comps. since Volume 2 and this one might be their best, and definitely one of the finest sets to come out this year. Excellent from beginning to end, and very light on the vocal Trance. Too many great to tracks to pick out, so everyone purchase this gem!

Also check out: George Acosta, Christopher Lawrence, The Thrillseekers ("Nightmusic, Vol. 3" - Best of '08), Tiesto ISOS 7, Solarstone, DJ Micro, Ferry Corsten ("Gatecrasher Sheffield" - Awesome set!)

Listen to this compilation of tracks straight through - its the best way to experience this volume (as with any volume on the anjunabeats series).

The tracks blend together beautifully for some of the most intoxicating, melodic trance. No crazy hard stuff here, just amazing music.

Many of the tracks seem like they have that 'BT'esque touch to them.

This compilation is absolutely wonderful. Above & Beyond are by far the best trance/progressive DJs out there. I have to say Volume 3 is my all time favorite, but this is a close second. Really great to listen to if you want to zone out and relax!

This is pretty amazing. I have been a big fan of Above & Beyond's Anjunabeats series of mixes. It seems as if they get better each time.

I could listen to this all day/night. Hope you all enjoy this as much as I do!

This is one of my favorite Trance Cd's I think the majority of the tracks are great, it contains beautiful uplifting Trance and I really recomend it. Also the DVD is nice and it contains pretty good interviews.

This is a non-stop joy to listen to. If you could make a playlist of all your favorite A&B tracks, you'd end up with those on this set. Highly recommend it!

I've been djing for quite some time now.... This album is absolutely great. Must have.

If you're just getting into the trance scene, this would be a great CD to pick up as all the tracks were big hits you're sure to enjoy. The Anjunabeats label (i.e. Above & Beyond) puts out some great stuff!

This is not new material so don't think you're getting new tracks on this release. If you want that get Above & Beyond - Anjunabeats 6 which just released, or check out the new releases by Markus Schulz, Cosmic Gate, and Tiesto.

I already had most of these songs but I had to get this. Both discs are amazing and the DVD is pretty cool. You can tell these guys are passionate about their music and they care about their artists and fans. I just wish they had put more concert footage at clubs and at the Rio New Year's thing. I suggest getting the other Anjunabeats compilations, especially Vol. 6 which is banging. Go to the website and check out the other artists. Get The Thrillseekers Nightmusic 3

Every track on this CD is great. My favorites are Air For Life and Can't Sleep. Hasn't left my CD changer since I bought it.

Blast from the past with lyrics of The Who "Rain down on Me.....". Great refreshing dance trance crisp vocal, on a rainy day or any other. Really nice listening.

If you enjoy electronica, particularly trance but with greater variety, you'll surely at least like this. See my Amazon UK review along with its two-disc 2008 remix (even better in some respects...available via Amazon UK).

Great album. I was unsure about getting this album at first because I only knew the one song "Can't Sleep," but I'm glad I got it. It's an easy album to listen to.

These guys throw a ton of vocals into their stuff, which isn't characteristic of trance; however, I'm not gonna be a "purist" on this one, because they do it so well. I really like this one. "Can't sleep", "good for me", and "home" are just brilliant. I have no idea what "good for me" would be under, but it's beautiful.

You're A Woman, I'm A Machine is the greatest album ever. And I don't say that about every album I listen to, I truly mean it. This is my all-time favorite and Death From Above is my all-time favorite band. There will never ever be another band that will compare to the Canadian drum/bass duo that was Death From Above 1979. Although I'm extremely upset that they only made one albm together, I think it's awesome that they are the only band to never write a bad song. Including the EP released after the band split up and various b-sides, the band has released a total of 21 songs (not including remixes, because most of those suck) at exactly one hour, and each and every one of them is fantastic. It's amazing what two people can do with just a drum set and a bass guitar. It's sad that bassist Jesse F. Keeler has gone on to form MSTRKRFT, a crappy electronica band in which no bass is used whatsoever. On the other hand, singer/drummer Sebastien Grainger just released his first solo album under Saddle Creek Records with his band The Mountains. Check it out.

You're a Woman, I'm a Machine is, if not my favorite album of all time, certainly the most listened to. When I think of how this dynamic duo play their music, words such as "intense", "energetic" and "insane" come to mind. A friend of mine burned me a copy of this album about a year ago and I was instantly hooked, and I've listened to it almost daily since then.

One thing about this album that I really think makes it great is it's overall appeal. Whether you like metal, punk, techno, pop or any other genre out there, there's something here for you, and it really just makes you want to dance, which is something everyone enjoys. The bass is heavy, the drums are great, and the vocals, while at times a bit too whiney (I can see how some emo kids could like this), are well sung. Overall an amazing album with global appeal.

As a bass player, I think this album is really important in showing the world that bass is not just a rooted instrument. I really commend Jesse Keeler for his relatively unique style of playing.

I've been reading some reviews of this album and there are some things I'd like to clarify. First, they do not need a bass player, as was said in one review, because the bass is the only stringed instrument in the band. There is no guitar, do your research. Second, the drummer sings, not the bassist.

Anyway, I've never been too good at this review thing, but I really hope this inspires someone to go listen to this album. I don't think the style is easily described, so I guess I say you should just go listen to it and make up your mind.

Here's a quick look at You're a Woman, I'm a Machine by the numbers:

Power ballads: None

Whining: None

Lyrics about feelings: None

Acoustic guitars: None

Guitars, period: None

Socially redeeming value: none

Pretentiousness: None

Percentage of this album's running time that makes me bang my head, tap my foot, or even make me attempt something bearing a passing resemblance to dancing: 100

With a breakdown like that, it's easy to see why Death From Above 1979 were able to lend a brief injection of vitality to the too-often dull and self-important world of rock. There may not be any guitars on this album, but the atomic riffs and screeching feedback of Jesse F. Keeler's bass and the relentlessly frenetic drum patterns of Sebastian Granger intertwine to create some of the most infectious, memorable, and downright enjoyable music released so far this decade, regardless of genre. Sure, every song sounds basically the same, with some faster and thrashier and some slower and more pummeling, but at 11 tracks covering about thiry minutes You're a Woman, I'm a Machine isn't around long enough to wear out its welcome. From opening to closing, Death From Above's debut full-length (and apparently their valedictory as well) is populated exclusively with sweaty, swaggering, libidinous tunes, topped by suggestive lyrics delivered in styles ranging from falsetto crooning to fearsome, confrontational shouts.

One could, if one were so inclined, go ahead and analyze the individual songs on this album, but that would miss the point. This is not an album to be analyzed; it's an album to be felt, enjoyed, experienced, and remembered; an album whose songs will bounce around in your head for days after hearing it and bring a grin to your face; an album that even had my wife banging her head upon hearing it. It's a reminder to the sorry likes of Nickelback and Staind that rock music can, even should, be fun, not an excuse for mopey whining about feelings and relationships. And even beyond all that, it's just a good time, something that's too rarely had for everybody. You could do a lot worse than to put away your complaint rock and give this album a spin.

Ok, first off, whether it's a trend or not to have 2 musicians or not, I don't care, that in itself does not affect how I approach a group. The music after all is what does matter.

That said Death from Above 1979 isn't bad. They're not great either. I agree they're very energetic, and You're a Woman, I'm a Machine is a very fun album. And it's very reminescent of old hardcore punk, where if you can pick up an instrument you can play it. (If they can do it, you can do it)

A bass guitar as a lead would seem preposterous. But you only think that when you hear about it or see them setting up. Upon starting to play you would think it's just like any other guitar. And for the most part you will be jumping around to this music, moshing even, if you like.

But for those that are really in tune with music you'll notice that the music is very repetitive and recycled. The same chord arrangements and strumming over and over. It almost seems as though, the guy couldn't cut it playing a guitar (or couldn't learn it fast enough) and decided to just plug in some distortion into a bass.

It's a good thing this album isn't long and most of the tracks don't clock in longer then 2 mins on average. Otherwise more ppl would notice this. The drumming of course is a major compliment to this. Otherwise it would have fallen apart before it started. So I applaud them for that.

But the good thing is that the majority of the tracks don't sound too alike and can equally keep the pace of the album which is FAST. The singing isn't bad either, it's a bit screechy (I can tell emo kids would be into this) and the lyrics won't make you think much which is good cause if you do the song will already be over. It's interesting how these two are paired together, they almost seem as they wouldn't be a part of the same clique if they were in HS. Least from what I've seen live. Which are definitely fun to watch, but as openers. I wouldn't see them if they headlined.

So if you don't mind any of those facts and just really want a feel good, poppy raw album to jump around too, this is definitely it.

And if you want to move towards more eclectic and far more talented musicians with amazing playability, I suggest you check out the Black Keys. Not only because they're another 2 piece band, but because they can definitely keep up and surpass groups that have more then 3 players, and the music is fast and fresh, and just as great to knock back a few and rock out.

Flashy, splashy, though extremely minimal with a mere two members, this debut definitly got noticed last year, if not for every single standout track, for the overall fuzzed panic attack that was more danceable then anything compatriots Queens of the Stone Age put out. Though the melodic language does become repetetive and monotonous, standout tracks lets this simple formula shine without all the unassertive derivations found throughout.

Anjunabeats 5 & 6 and Armin van Buuren's 'State of Trance 2008' brought me back to progressive trance after a 3-year hiatus and made me question why I had ever put it down. I've had both Anjunabeats 5 & 6 on constant rotation the last 2 weeks and it's still just as amazing now as my first listen. I have a slight preference for the first disc, but both are really strong. Love, love, love tracks: #5 & 8 on disc 1, and #4 on disc 2. Definitely worth getting.

Geez, these guys are brilliant. Definitely some of the best trance I've heard - imaginative grooves & ideas, amazing energy, transitions smooth as glass & yet sometimes very surprising where they deposit you harmonically... As someone else said, it's pointless singling out tracks - basically each disc is one gorgeously woven continuous experience, just like the best dance floor moments. These guys know how to pace & shape an extended mix, and it just fires me up.

I am a DJ and have actually purchased and listened to many Above and Beyond, Records and songs. They never fail to impress on the regular production end, and deffinately don't fail in this CD. The mixing is great, if they actually mixed it and didn't use Abelton, don't know. The first disc is very housy, which I have heard is a new blend style coming around, House/Trance. Kind of makes sense to blend the two. I like so many tracks on here regardless of the blending of the two sounds. I could purchase and play a whole set of Anjuna Beats, it is sooooo hard to not buy most of the records I hear from this label. I only have maybe one of the tracks played in this 2 disc compilation. So there should be some fresh stuff that you haven't heard before. I only gave it a 4 because there are not any huge original things done with the mixing, but the tracks are great. Anjunabeats, Vol. 5

AnjunaBeats vol.5 is Absolutely Incredible! It comes with two discs, one of which is more progressive trance, and the other are all club anthems that we all love!! Although you will hear a lot of popular favorites... Don't miss out on this incredible compilation.. two mixed albums for the price of one!!

~ Neil Monette

www.myspace.com/neilmonette

www.neilmonette.com

I'm not going to go track for track in my review. I'll just say that this is the best trance I've heard in the last 3 years. It is simply killer. CD 1 is the highlight, which is unusual given the make-up of most 2-disc trance CDs. CD 2 is excellent also but if you want beautiful, melodic trance with a nasty edge, CD 1 delivers big time. "My Name is Jaques" absolutely rocks (think massaging vibrating bass with spacey exterior notes to delight the ears along with an absolute explosion at 3:23....fantastic on good headphones and unreal on a big system) and then leads into incredibly satisfying and progressively melodic finishing tracks. Get it. You won't be dissapointed.

This one has the repeat factor. I only get inspired a couple of times a year to write a review about a group that I just discovered and this one does that for sure! I've only been listening for 24 hours and I can't get enough. A bit of Beatles meets Brandon Heath meets Leeland meets MercyMe meets Switchfoot(the slower Jon Foreman stuff)?
Very creative melodies, lyrics and composition. Produced very well. Favorites(at least in the first 24hrs) are The Streets, Love, The Sound of Your Name.
Keep an eye on this group!

This debut from Above The Golden State is amazing. I liked it right away, but every time I listen to it I love it more. Every song is great and the musical variety throughout makes this CD a musical adventure. It is hard to pick my favorites because they are all great for different reasons. However, if I was given only two choices I would have to select; "The Haunting" and "Streets". If you are considering purchasing this CD, I encourage you, you will not be disappointed. You will enjoy the varitety of instruments, including clarinet and cello or violin. Michael Watson has a unique voice and the variety of backup vocals are a perfect touch. I can't say enough about this debut, I can't wait to hear more from this band!

If you like Death From Above 1979 this EP is a must have. I originally purchased it on I-Tunes and then somehow misplaced it. So instead of buying the mp3's again I chose to have said media in a tangible format, which consequently I think I spent about a dollar less on. Shipping took about 5 days - no biggie. It was worth the wait.

Death From Above 1979 (DFA) blazed across the indie world and into that nether region between mainstream success and credibility. "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" had some major money behind it, Vice's record imprint is technically part of Atlantic... I should say, major force, if not funds. That album was a short blast of dance-punk/metal noise that was wholly unexpected by most. Jesse's angular bass chops and Sebastian's furious Joy Division-esqe drumming created a heady brew. The mostly tongue in cheek lyrics and occasional analog synth blast just added to the mix.

However, bass and drum noisecore bands are nothing new: Lightning Bolt has been rocking that scene for over ten years. But making the same style music poppy (and sing-a-long) was pretty much unheard of. It's hard to quantify what made them so magic, but their only LP is insanely hard to put down... even over a year later.

Their first EP, "Heads Up" has since been reissued, to help fill in the catalog. Whether this is an opportunistic grab from Last Gang, is immaterial, although the re-release fixes the old textual errors (the original release had the wrong website and "Death From Above" without the 1979 appended... pre-"cease and desist letter") and adds new ones ("Too Much Love" is misspelled).

Since the band broke up, chances are you will pick this up and it's well worth the price. Judging this record in comparison to "You're a Woman..", it gets four stars. However, in the grander scheme it's a little more mediocre. Remember this was originally released in 2002. Jesse and Sebastian endured two more years of sweaty basement gigs before they achieved success.

Of course the record quality is lower, more consistent with self produced home studio albums. If that turns you off, be thankful that "You're a Woman..." is so sparkly... indie music in general, might not be for you. Remember some of the greatest indie records of the last twenty five years were pretty rough (Black Flag's "Damaged I", The Wrens "Secaucus", At The Drive-In's "In Casino Out", etc). If anything, it's more consistent with noisecore... even if DFA isn't technically a noisecore band (Jesse's background is more arty-retro punk). After all, Lightning Bolt tries to make records sound "live".

The album starts out with, what sounds like Japenese or gibberish through a vocoder and rockets into "Dead Womb" (a song that evokes some of the quicker moments on "You're a Woman..."). "Dead Womb" is a quicker step and a little less "dancey" than anything on "You're a Woman", almost more punk. The next song, "Too Much Love" continues like that... actually a little more driving as the song doesn't really break up for a hook. "Too Much Love" actually has Jesse singing too, one of the few times you really hear him doing background vocals. "Do It!" (live) actually is probably my favorite track on the album. It starts with a little synth and breaks up for a long vocoder piece in the middle (laid over some double bass drumming). Except for the intro and outro, "Do It!" sounds just like the other tracks (in terms of production)... that's only mentionable because it's a live album. "Do It!" seems to be more metal too... the drumming is slightly more technical and entwined with the bass. "My Love is Shared" has a pretty big hook, which the earlier songs don't really have. "Losing Friends" starts with pummeling drum work and a very rhythmic bass part, quickly going into the metal-punk-dance style that they would build on for "You're a Woman...". One major distinction is that played with a full band, it would actually make a pretty convincing punk-metal/metalcore anthem. Crazy, eh? The album ends with "If We Don't Make It, We'll Fake It", a longer more screamy song, with a weird synth/vocoder outro.

What makes this different form "You're a Woman..."?

Well, the vocals are more distorted and nothing is double-tracked. While the casual listener interprets this as "poor production", it is actually proof that the band was just as good live as they were in a big studio. Another big distinction is the ability to hear the background vocals.

Overall, this is a more aggressive, less poppy release than their album. Since it lacks the extreme polish it isn't a stretch to say that it might not be for everyone. Yet, you should pick it up, anyway (only 2000 copies were made of the re-issue) and listen to it thoughtfully. DFA was brilliantly punk, self destructing before they could ruin their credibility and this just adds to an album that will become legendary in the future.

Buy it!

I wish the overall sound was louder and more clear. Maybe a production issue. Still DFA, still rocks for the jocks...

It didn't take me too long to warm up to this band, although at times the singer's voice annoys me a bit. All the same this is a 5 star EP all the way, whereas "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" is more a 4 or 4 and a half star effort.

I love "You're a Woman..." but this disc just kills, start to finish, whereas the previously mentioned full length disc had a weak track or 2. Also the drumming is way heavier on this one.

Any fans of this band not having heard this disc yet would be well advised to pick it up. It's not even 14 minutes, but furious drum & bass action with pile-driving riffs all the way.

This album, in my opinion, is even greater than You're A Woman, I'm a Machine. If you're a fan of DFA, this album will not disapoint!

I bought this CD cause I love Above & Beyond but when I listened to it I was let down. When you listen to a mix it has to create excitement in the listener, this disc didn't do that for me. It was like eating a stale box of Captain Crunch !! I am willing to try another one of these discs to see if they can redeem themselves cause I like Above & Beyond a lot.

Heard these songs on Pandora and had to get the album. Great beat to all the songs but the greatness is that you can actually relax listening to the BPM. Sound is almost futuristic tribal in tone.

I just can't get enough of Above & Beyond and their excellent label. This album simply proves why both are tops in this genre. From start to finish this is a winner, with really glossy, polished, energetic and pretty tracks, well mixed and well worth several listens to really sink in. It's a melodic journey mostly- with scarcely any vocals (the way I like it) but the three tunes with vocals are really good, from all stars like Justine Suissa (Sirens of the Sea, a hard to find OceanLab track) and Carrie Skipper (Time Goes By- beautiful). Really ecclectic sounds on "Larry Mountains 54" ( the debut release for the exciting sister label AnjunaDeep), "Hijack" (this is a great tune!) and "Getting Way" (a real favorite of mine from the A&B's Tranquility Base project). Also trance stunners like the Airwave remix of the masterful "Air For Life", "Alt + 4F", "First Aid" and the understated but rewarding "Trust Me." All in all, a real gem of a CD and not one to miss for any trance fan or anyone who just would like some really beautiful music to listen to.

This CD is an excellent trance compilation, but rather than buy this and anjuna vol2 separately, buy the 4 CD set 'ultimate trance 3'which includes vol2 and vol3 which are the best two CD's in that set. I've only just realised these were a separate series of compilations. So if you want 4Cd's for less than the price of two ,I recommend buying the other set.

The first two tracks were very "listenable," but I wasn't quite sure what I was in for until track 3 began. Above and Beyond's "Air For Life" set the tone for what proved to be a stunning mix of high energy and melodic trance. I was especially mesmorized by tracks 7-14, which were quite "eclectic."

I'm happy to say there are many standout tracks. Besides the highly acclaimed "Air For Life," "Sirens of the Sea," "Alt+F4," and "Time Goes By," I was really drawn into the unique sounds of "Trust Me," "Sequential," and "Resolution." Like I intimated above, you will be treated to some very eclectic sounds. My favorite of all though (at least for now!) is Above & Beyond's "Getting Away." They say in the insert that they wanted to "try something different from anything we'd ever done", and they succeeded big time, with a refreshing track that is sweet to the ears (and to the imagination as well).

This was my first introduction to the Anjunabeats series and it left me drooling for Vol. 4 that I ordered the other day. I am simply amazed that there were no reviews on Vol. 3, so I'm here to tell you to buy it ASAP and immerse yourself in sonic bliss. You will NOT be disappointed!

This is one of their best cds'. 187 flows strong. Only negtives I would give is there are too many sections on this cd where there is just talking. Also the music plays too long before they start rapping. But even with these negatives, I can listen to this cd over and over.

My fian'ce was excited to get this product because he couldn't find this in amy stores

Real g-funk that helped the 90's to be a golden age era for hip hop.

This is one of the best albums from Above The Law. The group is so heavily underrated that not many even know who they are anymore, but those that know who they are know that nothing coming out of the west compares to them -- they're in their own category. The album itself is full of gems that a lot of people were bangin' in their systems back in '94. Joints like "Kalifornia", "Uncle Sam's Curse", "Gangsta Madness", and "Black Superman" are classics in my mind. Almost every song features Kokane on the hook (he was on Ruthless records at the time and dropped the classic "Funk Upon A Rhyme" LP in '94, check that LP out too) and he brings even more flavor to already solid cuts like "Everything Will Be Alright", "Gangsta Madness", "Return Of The Real Sh**", "Who Ryde", and "Rain Be For Rain Bo". There's no need for the skip button when you're listening to this album.

As far as flaws, none come to mind. This is your typical west coast banger -- gangsta lyrics over laid back, funked out beats. You can't really ask for much more than that. As a matter of fact, if I could change anything about this album, I'd make it even longer (it clocks in at just over an hour long). Otherwise, you can pop this in and let it ride.

Uncle Sam's Curse is a classic joint from the left coast. If you want that classic ryder music, then go ahead and grab this. Most albums from '94 are dope anyway, and you know that Above The Law doesn't make bad music. I'm not sure if it's worth any more than $25 (it's definitely not worth the $75 bucks it's being listed for -- nationally distributed records never are), but it's still an excellent album. I recommend making this one a collection piece. You'll be glad you did.

Standout Tracks: Uncle Sam's Curse, Kalifornia feat. Kokane, Black Superman, One Time Two Meny, Rain Be For Rain Bo feat. Kokane, Set Free, The G In Me, Everything Will Be Alright, Gangsta Madness (My Favorite), and Concrete Jungle

Is it just me, or do I believe that every Above The Law album has been slept on? Majority of the tracks on all their albums bang, but yet the masses refuse to turn their heads to realize what it is that their missing. Not even with the backing of NWA on their 1990 debut album Livin' Like Hustlers. Although they headed a different direction with their style on their 1992 sophomore album Black Mafia Life (which is my favorite out of the group), people still missed out on what they had to offer (judging by the reviews, I don't think anyone picked up their 1991 Vocally Pimpin' EP). Now here come their 1994 album Uncle Sam's Curse, and still no one paid attention, and thats unfortunate, because this album is great. What I've noticed out of ATL, is that the albums I own they switch their style up. On their debut, they were sort of gangstas. On their sophomore LP, they were pimps and kicking game over some fly production. Here, they become sort of political with their rhymes (they were still pimpin' but not like their previous album). Cold 187um and KMG (as well as Total Koss) wern't heavily political, like Paris, Kam, and other west coast artists, but just gave you enough to know what the deal was.

On the majority of these tracks, there are snippets of speeches (possibly from movies) which people express their urban political views. "Return Of The Real" starts the album off of what it is to expect from this album. One of my favorites is the single "Kalifornia" which is dope and features a hot verse from Kokane (he was actually good back then people). Another favorite of mine would be "Everything Will Be Alright", an upbeat track about what they do to women, that also features Kokane. "Black Superman" is a standout in my opinion. "'G' In Me" is a great song with Cold 187um's smooth vocals going to work on the hook. "Uncle Sam's Curse" and "One Time Two Meny" are standout political songs about how everyday activities can affect someone. "Who Ryde" is another great standout that features Kokane. And the album closes off with a deep "Gangsta Madness" which dedicated to people who died at an early age.

Majority of the songs standout here on this album. Above The Law really lays it down and gets their point across here on their third full length LP. People who haven't heard this album will be impressed. Like I said, this album was slept on, and those should wake up and check this out. Then to top it off, it's out of print, causing this to not be as accessable as their other albums. Chances are you can track this album down for around 30 bucks (thats how much I paid for this album), maybe even less. Either way, this is one you would want to have in your hands. Peace.

Lyrics: A-
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: A-


Top 5 Tracks:
1. Kalifornia (featuring Kokane)
2. Everything Will Be Alright (featuring Kokane)
3. Gangsta Madness
4. Black Superman
5. Return Of The Real

Honorable Mention:
1. Uncle Sam's Curse
2. One Time Two Meny