Gareth Emery – Drive Review [3/4]

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Gareth Emery began working on his new album after going on a road trip across the US with his wife. He named the new album “Drive”. The album has a great opening song (Entrada) that draws you in automatically. Once you listen to the rest of the songs, you get more of a sense of the Gareth Emery we all know and love. This album is very vocal and I personally love it. There are a few of songs on the album that have already out shined the others and have climbed the list of current top tracks. The songs include Million Years, Lights & Thunder, U, and Eye of the Storm. I think Gareth Emery did an excellent job and I am glad to see him back on the charts. The album deserves 4/4 stars!
-Iza [4/4]

Gareth Emery’s “Drive”proves that Trance is not a dead genre and that more than a handful of DJs can still produce it at a high level. It’s no surprise that some of the biggest A-List DJs have dropped Emery’s singles in their sets; including the reigning king of Trance himself; Armin Van Buuren.  The album is almost perfect, with the exception of a few very slow vocally packed tracks in the beginning of the album. This is something I’m not a huge fan off, but it didn’t stop be from cruising through the rest of the album without hesitation. This is a trance album that does exactly what it’s supposed to do, take you on a journey from the first to last track without you realizing an hour has passed. I give “Drive” a very strong 3 out of 4 stars.
-Marcin [3/4]

Electronic Dance Music sensation Gareth Emery is back with his new album “Drive,” which I must admit has really surprised me on a very positive note. You can easily tell Gareth put his heart and soul into this album; therefore it is awesome to have such refreshing music from one of the most underrated DJs in the electronic dance scene. It is easy to tell that Gareth strongly focused on making sure each song is distinct in its own unique way. “Lights & Thunder” featuring Krewella is definitely one of my favorite songs on this album and is sure to soon find its way to mainstream radio stations. “Entrada” will for sure be considered an EDM festival banger this summer. On the chill side of the album “Soldier” featuring Roxanne Emery has really got me playing it on replay non-stop. “Drive” is receiving a solid 3 out of 4 stars on this incredible album.
-Cathy [3/4]

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Gareth Emery released “Drive” on April 1st, a follow up to “Northern Lights” four years later. “Drive” is the prime example of Gareth Emery’s aptitude of bringing Trance, Progressive, and House into a melting pot that takes the listener for a drive (no pun intended). The journey throughout the album takes the listener through classic vocal tracks featuring Christina Novelli, progressive tracks featuring the one and only, Ben Gold, and uplifting instrumentals. “Drive” should not be taken as a “Trance” album, or just another “EDM” album, but an album that inspires feelings, causes emotion, and most importantly personal discoveries. It’s tough to judge every single song because they are all unique and special in their own way. Gareth Emery’s time and effort into this album is worth the listen to especially front to back. This extraordinary album will be one of this year’s most diverse and well produced albums we may encounter this year.
-Amando [4/4]

I give this album 2/4 stars. Very uplifting, and very vocal album, ironically I only see myself listening to this album in my car, or on a long cruise. I enjoy GE live, but this album does not do him justice, but that’s just my opinion.
-Mario U [2/4]

Three_stars

RJ Pickens – WMC 2014 Miami

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Get into the Miami groove with this hour long WMC 2014 Miami Mix by Chicago’s own, RJ Pickens. its a nice change of pace from the mainstream EDM hope you guys enjoy as much as we did.

 

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Skrillex – Recess Review [2.5/4]

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Skirllex’s new album Recess was given a lot of attention right after its release on March 14, 2014. Initially fans thought Skrillex release a new “app”. Little did they know this was a link to his new album. At first I would have given the album 3 out of 4 stars. I found songs
such as “All is Fair in Love and Brostep”, “Recess”, “Ease My Mind’, and Dirty Vibe” to be very catchy and liked the reggae incorporation. Once I listened to the full album and looked at it as a whole, I changed my mind and rate if 2 out of 4 stars. Besides the songs listed above, I do not really like the other 7 songs. Skrillex had a great opportunity to blow his fans away but unfortunately I don’t think he did so.
-Iza [2/4]

Since bursting onto the EDM scene just a few years ago Sonny Moore aka Skrillex immediately made an impact with his amazing bass drops, hectic synth riffs and catchy tunes, putting Dubstep in the forefront of EDM Sub Genres. What followed was a slew a more artists with their own variations of the genre, but The King of Dubstep (as I dubbed him) reined supreme as his was the most mainstream and cleanly produced Dubstep in my opinion.  With his first 2 albums being Dubstep Masterpieces, you’d figure his third would continue the trend, unfortunately that does not happen. Recess in my opinion is a flop in Skrillex/dubstep terms.  If you like trap/hip hop/ reggae you will like the album as Skrillex takes a chance and collaborates with several different artists to create new sound. If you’re looking for that Skrillex sound of Bangarang and Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites you’re are in for a disappointment.I give Recess a generous 2 of 4 stars with the hope Skrillex will go back to what he does best.
-Marcin [2/4]

Who could forget when “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” stole the charts a couple years ago, but with such great potential and his obvious talent, Skrillex really disappointed me with his new album “Recess.” On a brighter note, “Ease My Mind” which is practically the only song I enjoy on the album Recess, the very catchy chorus “Dj ease my mind will you, play that song again, cause we were in love,” has really got me believing that this song is going to be the new EDM “anthem” very soon. But sadly the album as a whole is only going to receive 2 out of 4 stars from me, Skrillex both had the potential and the opportunity to release yet another great album, yet he did not leave me hungry for me.
-Cathy [2/4]

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After listening to Skrillex’s new album Recess, several times I can honestly say that this album is amazing by far. The fact that it isn’t your run of the mill big room house album and is just so different in the sense that Skrillex keeps his style of dubstep that he is well known for, and he then brings in a style mixed with hip hop, and reggae. I honestly did not expect this album to be as great as it is, with collaborations with Diplo, CL,Kill the Noise, Fatman Scoop,and Chicago’s own Chance the Rapper I was nothing more than amazed. I give Recess 4 out of 4 Chicago Stars. Good Job Skrill, bravo!
-Mario [4/4]

Sonny Moore, also known as Skrillex displays a versatile side to him in “Recess” than we have ever seen in his previous works. Skrillex is known for his hard bass drops, intolerable kid screams, and irritable screech noises. However Moore gives us a break from traditional dubstep and an inside look to the variety that is his genius. Skrillex opens his new EP with “All is Fair in Love and Brostep” featuring Ragga Twins, which invites and captures all those original Skrillex fans. Sure the opener sounds like regular, out-dated dubstep but Skrillex then proceeds to instill these drops that seemed to be hemmed for the featured artist. In “Coast Is Clear” Skrillex barely trademarks this tune while letting Chicago’s very own rising hip-hop artist Chance The Rapper take flight and take the listener with him. Kinda feel that Sonny restrained himself on this album (my opinion) give it 3/4 stars.
-Amando [3/4]

Two_and_a_half_Stars