Armand van Helden

Almost every song needs to be cut in half. I understand where redundancy can be good in house music. but this album takes repetition to a new ridiculous level. tracks worthy of praise are 5 and 7. The production quality is awesome, but AVH needs to basically use 1 word instead of 5.

My friend burned me a copy of this CD and told me I would like it. After I heard it, I went out and bought myself a copy because I thought it was soo good! Honestly...this CD is BLOWIN UP!! It is a fuse of that old 80's Latin bass bomb mixed in with some fresh new school house. It is definitely worth picking up this cd...

I absolutely LOVE this CD, the best one Armand has recorded yet, it has an 80's feel on the whole album but all the songs are great, upbeat and energetic. I bought this after hearing Kaskade's Bring the Night mix CD with NYC Beat on it by Armand and had to hear the rest of the CD and I'm glad I got it because it is wonderful.

With 80's nostalgia being in full swing these days, AVH couldn't have picked a better time to drop this CD. The album is a facinating hybrid of hip hop, funk, house, techno and R&B. Eventhough this album was strictly recorded on the synth and drum machine, it makes up in inspiration what it lacks in musical substance and depth. This also turns out to be a well rounded set that's likely to appeal to kids in the hood as well as the burbs.

Ghettoblaster is a deep house set that's aimed towards the underground. Even when poppier songs pop up here and there ("Go Crazy" and "Still in Love"), it packs a considerable amount of punch that keeps it from sounding fluffed. The real standouts are the more aggressive sounding tracks "Touch your Toes" and "A Track Called Jack". "NYC Beat" is an interesting fusion of punk guitars and a house beat and "I want your Soul" comes through with great melodic sincerity that will make Chaka Kahn proud. Though this album got the 80's stamped all over it, AVH craft a set of tight beats that's more transcending than many of the beats produced in the 80's. In other words, it has the potential to age better overtime than other synth happy songs from the 80's.

While this is a sweaty set that's worth your dollars, it does becomes a victim of its own formula. Ghettoblaster is a very one dimensional album when you think about it. The album may have the tendency to bore you if you listen to too much of it because he uses the same production approach to almost every song.

There's a lot of tracks that's worth repeated plays, but its best appreciated when you're ridin' in your car ,throwin' a party, or club hoppin'. In spite of it repetitiveness, Ghettoblaster has enough boom to make Radio Raheem envious.

Another candidate for best album of 2007 and as cats in the 80's would say, this album is dope and in full effect!

Mix of house, hip-house (new & old), acid house, old school house, freestyle, b-more club, hint of electro, and vocal house...
Usual AVH quality!!!

Upon first review the track listing, I have to admit it's a brave selection of music and I was excited to take a listen. He's definitely outside of the box on this one and it does feel like a set you would here at your own comfortable hole in the wall favorite spot where anything fun goes rather than trying to follow any formulas.
However, it would be more appropriate to call this "New York: An Editing Odyssey". These tracks are all studio edited and forced together rather than anything that resembles a true "dj mix set". Quite simply, this was not pulled off live and that is disappointing to hear from such a talented dj as Armand, because he probably could have. I know I intend to mess with many of the ideas presented here.
Truth be told this review is very nitpicky and the huge majority won't know the difference, but a few purists will. If he were to have actually pulled this off live, it would have been worth 7 stars.
Oh, and the little sound skip at the end of the last track, you need to understand, a dj couldn't just let that track fade out on it's own terms, you gotta put your stamp on it.

Where to begin?!? How bout Blondie....what a great kick-off. And the album does not stop until the last note bumps out the speakers 70-odd minutes later. Highlights include: EVERY SINGLE TRACK!!!! Pop and house...what a combo! A MUST BUY!

I bought this CD, thinking that it was 80's music remixed by Armand Van Helden. It's not. It is just slightly mixed together. So dissapointing. If you like your 80's music, but you have these songs elsewhere then you do not need it.

I gotta say, this CD is great. I grew up during the 80's and these songs bring back some happy memories. My only dissapointment was the ending. "Owner of a Lonely Heart" has to be one of my favorite 80's songs. So when I heard what sounded like a "glitch" I immediately returned the CD to where I bought it and went to a different store to find a new copy. The first thing I did was play the last song, and, to my surprise, there was that "glitch" again. That was a very dissapointing way to end what could of potentially, in my opinion, been a 5 star CD. None the less, it is a wonderful CD including my favorite new song, My My My. If you can get past that "glitch" being there, then I say go out and buy this CD.....

The Estonia guy who gave this CD a bad review obviously has something against the greatest city in the world - a place in which weak people like him are killed and eaten. Armand van Helden is the epitome of artistic prowess behind the wheels of steel, and most of the alternatives to this turntable wizard's masterpieces are the type of tacky and generic electronica you would hear in a backward hellhole like Estonia.

Whatever scene this is, that scene needs to cuts its tracks in half. I like repetitive music, but only when I can put it in the background. Repetition and sandpaper don't mix and fall into the background.

Notice that the bad reviews for this album come from places in the middle of nowhere. The bottom line is that this type of music is geared strictly for the most modern and progressive urban masses, people in places like New York City and Amsterdam.

That's it; that's the bottom line. And you know what? Armand is a God. Thank God for Armand, and keep doing your thing, kid!

Oh, and this music is NOT "electronica" or "techno" - this is Garage House, which is a totally different scene completely. For those who don't know, Garage House is grimey, highly creative dance music from the underground pens of places like New York City (birthplace of several massive musical movements such as Salsa and Hip Hop) and Western Europe.

For the countless masses who wish to one day call themselves "New Yorkers," getting caught up on this will go a long way toward understanding the culture and lifestyle of the greatest city on the face of the earth.

Armand Van Helden from NY, onew of my favorite dj's around, made this one back in 2000. Here he mixes diffrent genre's, lots of loops and scratching too which is kind of a trademark for him. I think this album got a little but of everything, and it's great to see those cool sounds recorded on a cd. "Full Moon" is a funky disco sounding song, rapper Common appears on it. "Koochy" is a remake of Gary Numan's "Cars" but with lots of scratching and a robotic voice on it's hook. On "Conscience" we have Tekitha Washington feautured, it's a midtempo song with cool beats same thing with "Little Black Spiders" even if i think these two would have been better instrumental. It's more rock in this one then the previous one though. "Flyaway Love" must be one of the weirdest songs recorded, you get the feeling something is wrong with the cd, but it's not, that's the beauty of it. "Swampthing" got cool beats which are echoing through the record. "House boxing" has to be one of the coolest, funky beats, melodic sound and drums. This man is capable of everything. "Breakdancers Call" is another song includeing a robotoic voice. If you're into dance/electro stuff, well then you should take a look at this. It's one of the coolest cd's around.

Alright, I would like to start out by saying that this is in fact, my least favorite "Electronic" CD! I cannot believe that I am actually able to rate this item 1 Star!! To sum this up in a very short second, I never give anything less than 2 Stars. Okay, I want to tell everyone that this CD is borderline "Jungle", and if you don't like anything to do with "Jungle", don't get it! I've tried and tried to give this CD a chance, but,

1: I don't like Produced/PA'd albums.
2: this CD is very, very repetative and loopy.
3: No talent, I mean NO talen is shown in this CD.
4: Why do you have to bring "Rap" into "Electronic" music?
5: "Heavy Metal" is great and all, but leave that to Dj Irene!!
6: Armand attempts "Booty House", but turns it into "Jungle".
*7*: To sum it up, whatever Armand was attempting in this album, he failed miserably, and gave "House" a very, very bad name!

All in all. . . . .SAVE YOUR MONEY!

I would have to say that armand mixes up a variety of sounds that come together to make an album that is worth having in the collection. It uses alot of repetitive riffs but in the end it all comes together rather well and it just proves that house can go in various directions. I definetly would recommend this cd for anyone who enjoys a good house tune!!!!!!

The tracks are all banging.(. . .)just NY flavor break dancing house!!!!! Armand will always be the man.Much props.

if you have never heard of the song U don't Know Me, you need to. I think this song breaks it down best when it comes to people trying to tell you what you need to do, what you are and where you need to be. Great Album, Super Song.

Excellent music , keep up the good work, it soothes our souls.

first, i have to get something off my chest...
do people really think we take them seriously when their review says things like "this cd is mad dope" or "the new armand joint..." etc... i mean, i can be as ghetto as any of you, but when you write a review, at least TRY to sound like you went to high school and graduated.
but anyways, onwards and upwards.
Great cd, most tracks are a lot of fun, especially with me as a dj, its nice that he left the long intros in (see "boogie monster" "alienz" "bounty killaz" and "entre mi casa")
Mother Earth is a 10 minute song, and it definately doesnt feel like it. it ends and you say to yourself "i wish that had been a little longer" then you realise 10 minutes have passed. great tune.
all in all very good, with very few low spots.
quality.

Dj Armand Van Helden has made an incredible album here. House, Drums N Beats and funky dance music and you got something really interesting. This album got my attention after listening to his super single "You don't know me" with Duane Harden. That was an cool dance track that made it to #1 in the UK. However most songs here aren't so commercial, they are infact very diffrent. Many are quite long typical Dj music, tough and funky but far from music that would sell on charts, most songs do not have any lyrics either. So if you think that most songs are simular to his 1# hit then you're wrong. "Necessary evil" is real rough, he's scratching a CD together with some backround beats. "Entra Mi Casa" a song with a good melody, funky beats and a female voice is also quite good. "Summertime" and "flowers" are both slow and dull, they are the exeptions of the otherwise quite rough album. "Alienz" is good "Boogie monster" and "Rock da spot" is allright too but nothing more then that. This Cd includs some interesting songs and Armand Van Helden music is something special i think you should take a closer look at, however not exactly a great album, maybe some re-makes of songs would make me like this one better.

The last time I heard something from Armand that made me dance all night, was the single "The Witch Doctor". This Album is unbelievable. I loved almost every cut. Armand Van Heldon has done it again.

Old school beats from "back in the day". What more does the Hip Hop purest want. I have this album on wax, a DJ's friend. If you like phat beats, and old school hooks, look no further.

Armand Van Helden is one of the nicest beat maker/remixer/producer out there.No question.Armand is like the babyface of house music.His beats have a mixer of African/latin influence.In fact, it would be wise to overhear all his work or music online at amazon.com......There are two albums offhand that will prove his music is crazy phat.The Nervous innovator album listed "Armand van Heldens Nervous tracks",His greatest hits, and "Enter The MeatMarket."

YO YO PEOPLE!!

IF YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR SOME SERIOUS HIP/HOP/SOUL ATTITUDE AND ALL OF THAT...WELL, THIS IS THE CD!! OFF THE HOOK!...LIKE SERIOUSLY...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!...LB...

This is sweet house, i have a lot of techno,trance,and house cds, but this definately the best it has really good jams

When people think of Armand Van Helden they usually think house music. This album is nothing like his latest album 2future4u. All of of the songs are created purely off rap samples and most of the songs have a really unique sound to them. I would love to give an example but all of the songs are individual masterpieces. This is the sleeper of the millenium in my opinion and truly deserves a closer listening to!!!

I couldn't agree more! Armand Van Helden brings a mix of beats and rhythm not found on in most other DJs. He's not redundant in his music and his house makes me feel nostalgic to my days in college around the mid-late 90s. Let's hope he brings groove to our lives for a long time and not fall dead like other drug-addicted or suicidal artists (INXS lead singer, Sublime, Kurt Cobain, Marley etc.) Best song ever - sneaker pimps 'spin spin sugar, spin spin sugar' (w/bass humming along)!!

Check out The Mole People - Break Night - one of the best tracks ever!!!

A cd that no doubt has most of the best house music ever produced. Armand is one of if not THE best house DJ in the world. He has and will continue to produce number one hits worldwide and rip up clubs all across England and Europe. If your an american and have the possibility to see him live, don't let it pass by but if you can't then at least he can come to you with one of the best house cd's ever. So if you mix with cds or want be able to hear what you have on vinyl in your car, buy this album. It will be well worth the money.