Cassius

It's hard to review this album.

It's not bad. It's not good.

But most of all it's also not your typical Cassius album. Here's the thing:

If you thought that "1999", or "Feeling For You" almost defined French house for a while, I'd have to go ahead and agree with you completely. Since then however, Cassius has tried to do everything but. And while they're talented at making, for instance, pop music or electronica that features Ghostface Killa or Pharell W.... the fact is that the farther away they move from their French House roots, the less worthwhile listening to them becomes. Hate to say it - but it's true. I am sure they have a good reason for doing what they've done on their past few albums, but it's not worth my money, and I would venture to say therefore, not worth yours either.

Of course, on the other hand this isn't technically a bad album. It's just not what you'd expect from two of the original Parisian house masters. The best this album has to offer is "Toot, Toot" - which I'd recommend just because it's a groovy tune, but if you itching for some classic Cassius...the rest of this album is going to be a bit of a disappointment.

"15 Again" is French House/Electro group Cassius third album. For those of you that also bought their first two, the music is simular but more mainstream with more guest artists and more diversity among the songs, they also got alot of lyrics this time. It was released in Europe in September 2006 but postponed a month in US. Maybe this sudden change of pace was made to sell better in US or to not make their music sound dated, hence even Pharell appears on one song!. We've seen many others doing the same, but when a dance group becomes too mainsteam and adds both pop, rock, jazz and a reggae singer it can often become too much. I don't mind the lyrics, but I prefer when the music is in the spotlight and there are fewer lyrics in this genre.


First song works fantastic, it's called "Toop Toop" it feautures vocals but they doesn't bother the song, it also got catchy percussion that is followed through-out the whole song and guitar riffs. Already a club hit in Europe. "This Song" is midtempo that feautures an annoying reggae singer, although it got a nice electro synth pop sounds, it hardly feels like a Cassius song. The title track "15 Again" feauture a female singer an is a passable pop/dance song. "All I Want" follows the sam path, but is also passable. On "Eye Water" Pharell feauture, the song is a pop/rock song and I guess they recorded it to get more popular appeal. It isn't bad, but sounds odd on a Cassius album. "See Me Now" maybe got the catchiest sound after "Toop" but once again the annoying reggae singer appears again. "A Mile From Here" is really strange, it's some kind of jazz influenced dance song. But eventually a fantastic song comes with "Jack Rock" that is classic instrumental house, it seems like Cassius didn't forget their roots afterall but they put this song discretely outside of the spotlight. "Cactus" is pure electro signed Etienne De Crezy. It's 8 minutes and a Great number also. "La Notte" which means the Night in Italian is a jazzy chillout song, also without lyrics. More electro comes on "Cria Cuervos", Another brilliant instrumental.

Overall, While it got it's moments it feels like too much of a mish mash at times. It's difficult to see a great house band going mainstream but still not giving up their roots. On this album we'll find an hell lot of diffrent genre's squezed into an album with 12 songs and most of them feel like they should have been part of diffrent projects. I don't mind them becoming a little more pop oriented, but at the same time they have to decide what kind of music they want to do. It's defenitely an album you could listen too and enjoy, but it's far too diverse to work as a concept. Mixed bag.

When it comes to electronica music, France really has breathed new air into one of my favorite genres of music. I love Air, Dimitri From Paris, Rinocerose (well their first album anyways), and Daft Punk (of course). Unfortunately I could not get into Cassius. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get into Cassius's "1999". The songs lacked the funkiness of Daft Punk or the intricate melodies of Air. The group's choice of samples were interesting to say the very least. I don't see very often an artist who would sample from '70s blaxploitation flick "Foxy Brown" like Cassius did on "Foxxy". Unfortunately what didn't really groove with me was the fact that the beats in most of the songs sounded too repetitive. I liked "Feeling For You", "La Mouche", "Foxxy" and "Cassius Remix '99" but otherwise this album didn't leave much of an impression on me, neither bad nor good. And when an album doesn't leave much an impression on me you know that isn't a good sign.

You need not listen to any disses regarding this album on here, its the real deal. Funky house in the highest order and an instant classic upon its release in 99, Cassius' 1999 album was probably the last truely classic French house artist album to be released during the french phenomenon. Alongside Daft's Homework, Etienne De
Crecy's Super Discount album, and Bob Sinclar's Paradise, 1999 will be remembered as a classic. By the way, this album is HOUSE music, not Air, so keep that in mind instead of broadly categorizing all french music.

Since some french dance acts started appearing in the late nineties, a new dance scene began to emmerge as well, mixing disco beats with electronica and generating a retro-futuristic sound. Daft Punk were one of the more challenging and inventive bands, even if their albums are flawed and uneven. Air offered laid-back, dreamy and smooth atmospheres. Cassius, however, failed to engage, as one can prove with "1999".
Yes, this record has a couple of interesting dance songs like "Crazy Legs" or "Interlude", still as a whole it`s a repetitive, uninspired, endless and at parts irritating album. Some of this material is ok for a nightclub, but as a record it doesn't really get off the ground. It brings nothing new, it`s basically a waste of time, and ends up being another flat, monotonous and overrated record.
A collection of fillers.

Cassius is another french dance group, they surely make some nice dance music. Feeling For You, Crazy Legs and
LaMouche are all suberb dance tunes, the best song of the Cd is defenitely "Cassius 99" but actually it was the remix that was the one released on single. Cassius produces Funky-dance music at it's best, unfortunately many songs are fillers and almost sound the same. I think 16 songs are way too much, ok Cd anyway. For the good tunes i mentioned it's defenitely worth buying the Cd.

I mainly picked this one out because I grew into loving House and Disco through the music of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-manuel de Homem-Christo, (aka Daft Punk) and I wanted to see what else there was. Good stuff, standouts are Feeling For You (my fave), Planetz, Mister Eveready, and both versions of Cassius 1999. Sounds like something midway between Discovery and Homework, heavy beats, but they are also driven on by vocals. Pick it up!

Folks, you simply haven't LIVED 'till you've heard Sammy Davis Jr. do the "Theme From Shaft!" Imagine the Samster with his ultra-proper diction trying Isaac Hayes delivery and you will really whoop it up over this one! Bring your buddies for beer and pizza for this!

Then there is Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) with an outrageously hoarse rendidtion of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me." When he goes, "I won't be o-fraid!" and really starts singling sourly near the end, it's another floor pounder in the extreme!

Bing Crosby doing the beatles and Sebastion Cabot (Mister French from "Family Affair" to my generation) doing Dylan add to the fun fun FUN! All I have have further to say about this is JUST GET IT AND LAUGH!

This second volume of Golden Throats isn't quite the classic the first one is, but it's still pretty damn good. There are plenty of hilariously bad versions of classic songs here. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy and Sebastian Cabot are back, and while their songs aren't quite as funny as the ones on the first Golden Throats, they are still quite amusing. Mae West is also back, and her contribution this time is actually funnier than the one on the first volume. There are two tracks here by Sammy Davis, which are both hilarious. Mel Torme's version of "Sunshine Superman" is bizarre, trippy and funny. Bing Crosby "pum pum pum pums" his way through "Hey Jude". The songs by Cassius Clay, Phyllis Diller and Mitch Miller are also very funny. But I have to say that although the songs by Jack Jones and Chad Everett are bad, I don't find them to be particularly funny. If you enjoy songs that are "so bad they're funny", you should get this CD.

These songs are funny, but some folks may find them painful to listen to. What can I say, I've listened to this material repeatedly - not only do I get a huge kick from it, but I also enjoy springing it on unsuspecting coworkers. There's no question that this is bad music, but if you have a sense of humour, the Chad Everett version of the BeeGees classic Nights on Broadway is worth the price of admission. I thought the Sammy Davis Jr. selections were unkind, as they lack the howling qualities of (who else) Will Shatner or Phyllis Diller...

I had to special order this item and haven't regretted it one bit. If you have a sick fascination for horrible music, this one is a must (see also the original Golden Throats). I confess Volume 3 left me a bit cold, but then I am partial to the joyful enthusiasm with which these unsung (no pun intended, believe me) heroes hurl themselves at rock covers... while G.T. 3 was dedicated to pathetic attempts at country & western.

These songs are funny, but some folks may find them painful to listen to. What can I say, I've listened to this material repeatedly - not only do I get a huge kick from it, but I also enjoy springing it on unsuspecting coworkers. There's no question that this is bad music, but if you have a sense of humour, the Chad Everett version of the BeeGees classic Nights on Broadway is worth the price of admission. I thought the Sammy Davis Jr. selections were unkind, as they lack the howling qualities of (who else) Will Shatner or Phyllis Diller...

I had to special order this item and haven't regretted it one bit. If you have a sick fascination for horrible music, this one is a must (see also the original Golden Throats). I confess Volume 3 left me a bit cold, but then I am partial to the joyful enthusiasm with which these unsung (no pun intended, believe me) heroes hurl themselves at rock covers... while G.T. 3 was dedicated to country & western.

I have yet to hear her sing something I didn't like. I saw her in concert and she wasn't "obnoxious and rude". Maybe she was going through a rough time- how do you know? Anyone who has listened to her other albums knows that she is incredible!

I saw Ellen with Margaret Roadknight live in Sydney Australia around 1983 with a group of mates because we were into blues big time. When Ellen walked on stage - introduced by Margaret, and the two of them sat down and we all listened to the first few licks from Ellen, we were all totally transfixed. We sat out the rest of the concert in complete silence. Never had I (17 at the time), and never have I since (you do the math), experienced such a phenomenal performance. She interacted with the audience a lot, played slide like nothing earthly possible, and sang with a voice that cut straight to your soul. It was a profound musical experience.

Ellen defies categorizing, however if you want to hear some of the most "extra-ordinary" slide guitar work ever recorded, with a voice that resonates within you long after you hear it, then have a listen.

And while I don't own all her albums, this one connects with me like that concert did. If you own any of Ellen's albums and you love even just one of them, then buy this one - because you'll get it. If you've never owned an Ellen album but you've bought this album and you love 'some' of it, then buy something like The Real Ellen McIlwaine/Everybody Needs It - you're in for a real treat!

I'm sorry but I saw her live and I found her obnoxious, insulting, and ridiculous. I know blues music, real blues music and this is not it. Try the legendary Ella Fitzgerald, a woman she was so quick to insult at the concert I attended. Ella was blues- this woman is not.

"Mystic Bridge" is as amazing as it is unusual. As the first release on Ellen's own label, she offers herself few constraints. Ellen spent her first 15 years in Japan. The cover photo shows the Kodai-Ji Zen Temple in Kyoto, Japan. Recorded in Calgary Canada, Ellen works with a tightly knit internationally based band. Cassius Khan, who liner notes tell us was born in Fiji & grew up in Canada, plays tablas that feature prominently on all tracks. The eight-minute meditation that closes the CD, "The Question/Darbari Raag" has Ellen reciting Christine Steele's translation of the Urdu poem by Shakeel Badayuni interlaced with vocals with Khan & herself, "When all illusion is stripped away; When the scenery cracks & crumbles and the props fall over & the stage is struck, will you take me home my Father?" My favorite track is the six-minute "Sidu" with Ellen's vibrant non-English vocals traveling the scale in Indian style. The track surges and pulses with energy and Linsey Wellman on what sounds like flute. One of Ellen's early albums was "We the People." Her version here is born again delightfully with tablas and Ellen's pyrotechnics on acoustic "slide" guitar. Other tracks like the uplifting positive message of "Save the World" and the CD opener "Take Me to the River" also shine. This set is an acoustic international fusion of sound, hard to describe because of its diversity. However, when the CD has played, it leaves you with a satisfied smile because ALL of it works well. Bravo!

All you have to do is look at the title of this comedy album to know that it was recorded before the artist formerly known as Cassius Clay became better known as Muhammad Ali. But when you listen to these tracks you might be surprised to also learn that the comedy portions were performed and recorded before Clay had become the heavyweight champion of the world. Once you understand that you can appreciate that this album would never have been reissued on CD if that had not happened and can only wonder what sort of footnote Clay would have been to the sport as a boisterous clown whose substance could not match his style. The idea that it is not bragging if you back it up is a truism, but young Cassius Clay certainly puts that idea to the test on this album.

So here we have the brash young boxer and Olympic champion from Louisville, Kentucky, undefeated in 19 fights with 15 knockouts at that point in his career. Clay recites poetry, talks constantly about how pretty he is, insults current champ Sonny Liston at each and every opportunity, and keeps reminding his audience that he is the greatest. Clay is introduced (wearing black tie) as Cassius Marcellus Clay and after his first reading is announced, a bell sounds. Then Clay launches into his most famous poem, "I Am the Greatest!" and the crowd goes crazy. Gary Belkin and Peter Matz are listed along with Clay as the writers for these routines. Belkin won Emmys writing for "The Carol Burnett Show," and also worked on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "The Danny Kaye Show," "Get Smart," "The Doris Day Show," and "Newhart." Matz was a composer who also won an Emmy for "The Carol Burnett Show," and was nominated for an Oscar for his work on "Funny Lady." My best guess is that Clay contributes most of the rhyme, Belkin comes up with the comedy skits (including the faux question and answer session), and Matz is writing the music.

The tracks on this album were recorded between August 5, 1963 and March 3, 1964. The former would be the date for the original ten tracks and the the latter would be a time after Clay won the title in which the remix of "I Am the Greatest" (with music added) and the attempts for Clay to sing Ben E. King's standard "Stand By Me" and Matz's song "The Gang's All Here." But the main attraction here is listening to Clay run on at the mouth with nobody making any effort to stop him (yes, you do miss Howard Cosell play straight man, but it is not like he would have been able to get a word in edgewise). He certainly has the timing of a stand up comedian and you have to admire his ability to keep yelling this long. "I Am the Greatest" is a novelty record to be sure, but it captures the brashness of the young Clay on the verge of actually being in all of his glory (the jokes about the Kennedy White House dates the material more than the Liston fight).

On the night of Tuesday, February 25, 1964 in the Miami Beach Convention Hall it took 21 minutes for the 8-1 underdog Clay, soon to be Cassius X and then Muhammad Ali, to become the heavyweight champion of the world. During the weigh-in Ali had declared he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." From the start of the fight Clay used his advantages in reach and speed to keep away from Liston's shots to the head and body. In the third round Clay had opened a large cut under Liston's eyes, but in the fourth Clay was having problems with a foreign substance in his eyes. However, Clay stayed out of Liston's reach and the champion failed to come out for the seventh round (later claiming he had suffered a dislocated shoulder). Clay lept out of his corner yelling he was "King of the World" and informing Howard Cosell and everybody else that he was "a bad man." A rematch on May 25, 1965 in Lewiston, Maine saw Clay knock out Liston in the first round (the infamous "phantom punch"). By the time Clay battered former champion Floyd Patterson for a dozen rounds later that same year, the hyperbole of Clay's claim "I Am the Greatest!" was being taken at least at face value if not as understatement.

This spoken word album was recorded by Cassius Clay before he became Muhammad Ali, and even before he became World Heavyweight Champion. It's pretty entertaining stuff, with Clay reading poetry and bragging about how great he is. The album was recorded in front of a live audience, and their laughter and applause definitely helps out with the atmosphere. The CD includes three bonus tracks tracks. The single version of "I am the Greatest" is shorter than the album version, plus it is set to music. "Stand By Me" is Clay's legendary "Golden Throats" version of the Ben E. King's classic. "The Gang's All Here" is a previously unreleased recording of Clay leading a sing-along. Fans of Muhammad Ali should really enjoy this CD.

Even those unfamiliar with boxing or the topical events of the time cannot help but roar at most of the humor in this as the former Mr. Clay delivers a series of hilarious rhymes about his modesty (or lack thereof) and likelihood of beating then-champ Sonny Liston. Ali would have made a great comedian. The added bonues is that he's just as funny when he tries to sing. His attempt to sing Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" straight with his incredibly hoarse voice and poor timing is hilarious! Ditto for his Beatle-esque, raucous version of "The Gang's All Here" celebrating his victory over Sonny Liston (check out the Paul McCartney-like WHOOOO! in the backgound on this one).

This one will have Ali fans rolling on the floor in laughter. Those who are not in the know may also find this amusing. Enjoy!

If you are a devoted Ali fan, you need this. Aside from the importance to the collector, it really IS quite funny. Definitely a kind of pre-rap. You might think this kind of endless bragging would be obnoxious, but he keeps it entertaining. If you aren't an Ali fan or boxing fan, you won't like it. But admirers of "The Greatest" will find this bringing back memories(and encouraging them to pop in the Clay-Liston fight).

Before He Became Muhammad ALI He was Cassius Clay.this is a Trip Disc.if Rap Music had have been Popular in the 60's then he would have been ahead of his game.maybe he wouldn't have boxed? Cuz He Could Flow On The Mic as Tight as He Could In The Ring.But Thank Goodness He Stayed in The Ring&Was a Voice of F.R.E.E.D.O.M.HE IS THE GREATEST.this is very essential too ANy ALI FAN.

I Loved 1999 but this one just sucked. It was a big let down for me. I really want Cassius to come back with a better house vibe.

Only got introduced to this outfit recently and so far am totally hooked. Funky mix of rock, jazz, dance, not too mention some great (Prince influenced?) guitar licks on my favourite track: Nothing. In my opinion, this is just as good if not better than 1999. Both albums are full of character and deliver a lot of depth to their sound.

this is a pretty lackluster effort, but it still has sparks of the wicked funkiness of 1999. Sound of violence is a standout, but not many others are.

If you are interested in Cassius, seek out a live mix! You can find their Essential Mix online, for example, using a p2p software. Then see them live. THEN, you can pick up their cd's. Really, these guys are THE BOMB as dj's. Awesome. Everyone in the world should hear them spin live, cos they break it down. They also have a live mix on Radio Nova's website. Not to encourage piracy, but you need to hear them live, their albums, though interesting, don't get to how understand how awesome they are as dj's.

The second album from french group Cassius is even better then the first one, once again this electro dance group proves they are among the best groups of their kind out there. A mix of Electro/Synth and Funk/Soul, lots of guest artists this time but most of them are doing it well. Hi-Water and Sound of Violence are both funky with cool beats, Room tone and Telephone Love also goes in the same spirit of fresh original electro music. Jocelyn Brown appears on "Im a woman" a more soulish song and rapper Ghostface Killa on "Thrilla", interesting to mix rap and dance, a good result from my point of view. "Protection" is a relax song, like Royksopp, it's slow but good. In the end of the day this album is a hit a good mix of diffrent styles and one of the best elctro albums of last year! let's hope for more.

All you have to do is look at the title of this comedy album to know that it was recorded before the artist formerly known as Cassius Clay became better known as Muhammad Ali. But when you listen to these tracks you might be surprised to also learn that the comedy portions were performed and recorded before Clay had become the heavyweight champion of the world. Once you understand that you can appreciate that this album would never have been reissued on CD if that had not happened and can only wonder what sort of footnote Clay would have been to the sport as a boisterous clown whose substance could not match his style. The idea that it is not bragging if you back it up is a truism, but young Cassius Clay certainly puts that idea to the test on this album.

So here we have the brash young boxer and Olympic champion from Louisville, Kentucky, undefeated in 19 fights with 15 knockouts at that point in his career. Clay recites poetry, talks constantly about how pretty he is, insults current champ Sonny Liston at each and every opportunity, and keeps reminding his audience that he is the greatest. Clay is introduced (wearing black tie) as Cassius Marcellus Clay and after his first reading is announced, a bell sounds. Then Clay launches into his most famous poem, "I Am the Greatest!" and the crowd goes crazy. Gary Belkin and Peter Matz are listed along with Clay as the writers for these routines. Belkin won Emmys writing for "The Carol Burnett Show," and also worked on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "The Danny Kaye Show," "Get Smart," "The Doris Day Show," and "Newhart." Matz was a composer who also won an Emmy for "The Carol Burnett Show," and was nominated for an Oscar for his work on "Funny Lady." My best guess is that Clay contributes most of the rhyme, Belkin comes up with the comedy skits (including the faux question and answer session), and Matz is writing the music.

The tracks on this album were recorded between August 5, 1963 and March 3, 1964. The former would be the date for the original ten tracks and the the latter would be a time after Clay won the title in which the remix of "I Am the Greatest" (with music added) and the attempts for Clay to sing Ben E. King's standard "Stand By Me" and Matz's song "The Gang's All Here." But the main attraction here is listening to Clay run on at the mouth with nobody making any effort to stop him (yes, you do miss Howard Cosell play straight man, but it is not like he would have been able to get a word in edgewise). He certainly has the timing of a stand up comedian and you have to admire his ability to keep yelling this long. "I Am the Greatest" is a novelty record to be sure, but it captures the brashness of the young Clay on the verge of actually being in all of his glory (the jokes about the Kennedy White House dates the material more than the Liston fight).

On the night of Tuesday, February 25, 1964 in the Miami Beach Convention Hall it took 21 minutes for the 8-1 underdog Clay, soon to be Cassius X and then Muhammad Ali, to become the heavyweight champion of the world. During the weigh-in Ali had declared he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." From the start of the fight Clay used his advantages in reach and speed to keep away from Liston's shots to the head and body. In the third round Clay had opened a large cut under Liston's eyes, but in the fourth Clay was having problems with a foreign substance in his eyes. However, Clay stayed out of Liston's reach and the champion failed to come out for the seventh round (later claiming he had suffered a dislocated shoulder). Clay lept out of his corner yelling he was "King of the World" and informing Howard Cosell and everybody else that he was "a bad man." A rematch on May 25, 1965 in Lewiston, Maine saw Clay knock out Liston in the first round (the infamous "phantom punch"). By the time Clay battered former champion Floyd Patterson for a dozen rounds later that same year, the hyperbole of Clay's claim "I Am the Greatest!" was being taken at least at face value if not as understatement.

This spoken word album was recorded by Cassius Clay before he became Muhammad Ali, and even before he became World Heavyweight Champion. It's pretty entertaining stuff, with Clay reading poetry and bragging about how great he is. The album was recorded in front of a live audience, and their laughter and applause definitely helps out with the atmosphere. The CD includes three bonus tracks tracks. The single version of "I am the Greatest" is shorter than the album version, plus it is set to music. "Stand By Me" is Clay's legendary "Golden Throats" version of the Ben E. King's classic. "The Gang's All Here" is a previously unreleased recording of Clay leading a sing-along. Fans of Muhammad Ali should really enjoy this CD.

Even those unfamiliar with boxing or the topical events of the time cannot help but roar at most of the humor in this as the former Mr. Clay delivers a series of hilarious rhymes about his modesty (or lack thereof) and likelihood of beating then-champ Sonny Liston. Ali would have made a great comedian. The added bonues is that he's just as funny when he tries to sing. His attempt to sing Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" straight with his incredibly hoarse voice and poor timing is hilarious! Ditto for his Beatle-esque, raucous version of "The Gang's All Here" celebrating his victory over Sonny Liston (check out the Paul McCartney-like WHOOOO! in the backgound on this one).

This one will have Ali fans rolling on the floor in laughter. Those who are not in the know may also find this amusing. Enjoy!

If you are a devoted Ali fan, you need this. Aside from the importance to the collector, it really IS quite funny. Definitely a kind of pre-rap. You might think this kind of endless bragging would be obnoxious, but he keeps it entertaining. If you aren't an Ali fan or boxing fan, you won't like it. But admirers of "The Greatest" will find this bringing back memories(and encouraging them to pop in the Clay-Liston fight).

Before He Became Muhammad ALI He was Cassius Clay.this is a Trip Disc.if Rap Music had have been Popular in the 60's then he would have been ahead of his game.maybe he wouldn't have boxed? Cuz He Could Flow On The Mic as Tight as He Could In The Ring.But Thank Goodness He Stayed in The Ring&Was a Voice of F.R.E.E.D.O.M.HE IS THE GREATEST.this is very essential too ANy ALI FAN.

If you've never heard these guys check em out!! This band is a bunch of young guys making music for the masses...the vocalist even filled it for the tough guy hardcore band Bury Your Dead...no easy task...very creative and innovative album!!