Motown Remixed, Vol. 2
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Music CD Cover Edition: Music CD CD Release Date: 2007-05-22 Music Label: Motown Soundtracks:
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Free Music Notes for Motown Remixed, Vol. 2 Album
Free Music Review: Motown Remixed Vol. 2: 'Latin' Mixes
Hit: 4 Stars
Since some of my most beloved Motown tracks are featured on the album, so I snapped this album up immediately. What I like about the Motown Remixed series is that the mixes are (for the most part) very respectful of the originals. The songs are changed up quite a bit, but the original structure and melody is not too far away. Whether or not the Latin sound is your sound, there are still enough bright spots on this album to make it worthy of a listen.
Highlights:
'Shotgun' really benefits from the Latin treatment, which smoothly integrates the sax and organ of the original with a Latin steel drum beat. The addition of the Latin flavor to the Motown sound also works well for 'Dancing Machine'. The new mix really swings with an added brass arrangement. The best parts of the song (Michael's first verses, the instrumental breakdown) are drawn out and repeated (the instrumental breakdown has a really Latin flavor, who knew?) and the instrumental build-up behind Jermaine's lines is an excellent touch. The Andres Levin mix of 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' is the crowning glory of the album. Marvin's vocals are front and center, as they should be, and they are perfectly complemented by the mix, which features a piano track. It's absolute alchemy! It reminds me of the genius of a Freemasons remix. Another solid track is the mix of the Spanish-language version of 'Being With You'. The trademark saxophone of the original is omitted, but Smokey's always-brilliant vocals are placed over layers of bongos and strings, creating a slightly more (just slightly, though) uptempo sound than the original.
Lowlights:
The 'The Boss' mix is dreadful...the mix strips the original instrumentation and is very salsa/tango music with a hint of reggae, which is fine, but paired with Diana's vocals all the drama of the song is zapped. And if you've heard 'The Boss,' it is ALL ABOUT the drama. All that is lost in this mix, unfortunately. There's something about the key of the original vocals and the key of new mix that doesn't match well at all. Not to mention that her vocals are too muddled. A bit of a disaster. Both the David Elizondo mixes (of 'Heat Wave' and 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone') have a reggae sound as well, and I'm not a huge fan of reggae so naturally I'm a bit predisposed against them. It works much better for 'Heat Wave,' but neither track is one I plan on listening to again.
In the middle:
The SPK mix of 'I Want You Back' is very subtle, to the point where I might have to take a minute before realizing it's a mix. If I want to hear the original, I've already got it. The mix of 'I Can't Get Next To You' is subtle but slightly less so...it attempts to add drama with an extra drumbeat and a rock guitar sound, and the breakdown is mixed. But the original already had drama with the frantic passing around of the vocals, and the original beat complemented it perfectly. This mix seems to be a bit overkill. The 'Square Biz' mix is very calypso flavored and fun, but Teena Marie's vocals are slightly overpowered by the instrumental track. And the original 'Don't Look Any Further' has a bit of a Latin/reggae feel, which ironically is stripped a bit for the new mix. A folky-Latin guitar arrangement is added, and it has a bit more of a downtempo sound. I prefer the original but this version is quality (it would have been much more fitting on the first Motown Remixed album).
So, 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) for a solid remix album. Regarding the series in general, I do wish that instead of themes, the Motown Remixed series would focus on compiling the best Motown remixes out there, regardless of style. And I wish the series would come out more often than once every two years! Remixes of Motown tracks are constantly hitting the clubs, so there's no shortage of material.