Better Living Through Chemistry - Fatboy Slim

In terms of defining a time, this is a classic which sits alongside Screamadelica and Stone Roses debut. The samples were blatant the beats bigger than most and the tunes infectious and memorable. While it never received the glowing commercial praise of its follow up this was a more beat driven and sound system friendly affair. The acid lines of Everybody Needs a 303, alongside a tremedous build up were enough to convinve even the biggest of wallflowers to get on the floor and dance. I was fortunate enough to see Fatboy Slim at the Big Beat Boutique in Brighton before this album was released and even then people knew that they were even for something special. I am ...  Read the complete review

Better Living Through Chemistry has, it must be said, less mainstream appeal than Fatboy Slim’s second album, You’ve Come A Long Way Baby. That’s not to say it isn’t appealing – in fact, the less polished, less chart-buster-packed feel of this first effort could be just the ticket for those turned off by the sheer scale of Norman Cook’s fanbase. To illustrate what I see as being the essential difference between this and the second album, I’ll explain the way I imagine Norman creating a Fatboy Slim track. Start of with a set of basic samples – say the singing, piano and bassline of Praise You (from the second ...  Read the complete review

Norman Cook's versatility knows no bounds, as everybody knows since the advent his great choons of the last couple of years (Gangsta Trippin, Rockefeller Skank etc). This is where it all began. Most will say that Cook's second album is far better, and of course they'd be right. The brilliance in this album lies in the fact that it stands out both as a great dance album, AND as a background to anything! I love listening to it either when throwing a party, or just reading a book in bed. However, the impatient listeners out there will NOT appreciate some of the lenghtier tracks, as they do tend to repeat a little - if you're one of those people, then ...  Read the complete review

This, the first of Norman Cook's albums under the alias of Norman Cook is probably his least commercially successful album, or at least if you take that to mean single sales. This album has been used for multiple adverts however! This album is ideal to sit and listen all the way through, or to put on really loud and play the air guitar to, it highlights the inventive nature of Norman Cook as a producer. HIs carefully chosen samples can make this album everything from catchy to emotional. Tracks such as 'Song For Lindy', 'Going Out of My Head' and 'The Weekend Starts Here' are among the best ever tracks by the Fatboy! What more can ...  Read the complete review

This is the first Norman Cook album in the guise of Fatboy Slim- and I think that it is the least innovative and exciting. Most of the tracks blend into one and not one is particularly memorable. If I had to pick a standout track, I would say Everybody Needs A 303 is the best, purely because if there is any sort of tune in any of the tracks, it can be found here. No wonder many say this CD is the origin of ‘big beat’ music- it is big beats and nothing much else. If you want some great party music, get his second album, and if you want some more laid back material, get his third. If you want a mediocre package, get this, his first. It sounds incredibly dated ...  Read the complete review