Never Outgunned (Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned - The Prodigy)

Member Name: dcoare

Product:	Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned - The Prodigy
Date:	30/09/04 (131 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Proper Beats., Amazing production.

Disadvantages: 2 Lesser tracks spoil the whole

The Prodigy. – Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.

Well I must admit that I never thought that I would be reviewing a dance album, but on having purchased this album, I felt the need.

The prodigy have been around for what seems the longest time. I understand that there were underground things going on before, but my first experience of them was with Charlie. The prodigy have always been a cool version of what is going on at that time, but now I feel they have surpassed themselves. This album shows the way for things to come over the next few months of dance music.

As anybody who knows me will tell you, I am not the biggest fan of dance music, but The Prodigy always seem to produce something that makes me stand up and listen. When Charlie was released I felt I had to have it. Then I heard a snippet of a track from The Fat Of The Land and had to buy that. With this new album, it was the same. I was listening to Zane Lowe on Radio 1 when he announced that the hottest track on the planet at the moment was from The Prodigy. I listened and bought the album as soon as it was released, I was not disappointed.

Tracks.


Spitfire.

Slow intro with female warbling, kicks into a thunderous drum riff, this really is a good intro into this album. Not an amazingly outstanding track, but sets the mood nicely for the mayhem that will follow.

Girls.

The first single from this album. (At this time I dont know what else is to be released). I love the way this starts fairly quietly, and then really kicks in. This is a real kick back to the eighties, with its hook from said era (I’m not sure what it is borrowed from) it takes you into a trance like faze, then immediately cuts back into the thumping drum track you would expect from the prodge.

Memphis Bells.

Starts with backwards sounding loop that lead into an infectious drumbeat, with synthesized bells that run their own riff. A vocal then cuts in to add to the delirium. A fantastic easygoing track.

Get Up Get Off.

This really is a fantastic track. It sees Liam using a rapping vocal over his track, but it so fits. All the intervals are filled with vocal loops, but the rapping sections are the real stand out. This is one of the tracks that I have to keep playing whilst driving, the others I shall come to later.

Hotride.

This track was playing when I went to buy my copy from Virgin, and it didn’t dissuade me in any way. Plenty of things going on alongside the synthesized guitars and raging drum beat. A brilliant vocal accompaniment with an excellent chorus, this is possibly one of the singles. (My view only!!)

Wake Up Call.

An amazing riff kicks off this track, with the inevitable drums kicking in. A male vocal comes in and that’s how this one pans out. A kicking track, but fairly average in comparison.

Action. Radar.

Fairly subdued start, leads into what sounds like a very eighties type backing track. The vocal is fairly non-descript, and the choruses don’t really stand out. Probably the least favourite track on the album, but good for the nostalgia.

Medusa’s Path.

Beginning with an Egyptian sounding loop, this then kicks into life. Keeps the Egyptian feel throughout but still manages to sound like a rocking good dance track.

Phoenix.

Kicks in with the riff to Love Buzz by Nirvana, but apparently conceived by Shocking Blue, this is a real reminder to Nirvana fans of Kurt’s’ obscurity. Still a great track, but I can’t hear it without thinking of the Nirvana track. (That’s probably me just being a rock head).

You’ll Be Under My Wheels.

Most of you will know this from the advert for BMW. This is a fantastic track that really uses your stereo system to the full most. A really mesmerizing track.

The Way It Is.

This is the track that I heard on Zane Lowe that made me buy the album. It has been mixed using Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and it works amazingly for it. I have already spent many hours driving with this track accompanying me. There are no real ways to describe the head-bopping, chest strutting feel that this track gives you.

Shoot Down.

Featuring Liam Gallagher this track has everything you need. A very rocking drum beat, with Liam’s rock’n’roll vocals and the synthesized guitars rocking all over this track, it is a brilliant end to an amazing album.

Overall.

So finally, I must admit that this has been one of the standout albums of the year so far. The Prodigy have changed their line-up, but have lost nothing for the conversion.

It doesn’t feel anywhere near the same as The Fat Of The Land, but that’s possibly not a bad thing as a lot of the tracks on that album were very samey.

If you like any type of music, then this is a must. You won’t be disappointed.

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