Search - :: You've Come a Long Way Baby

HE's THE ONE...FATBOY SLIM IS THE MAN!

Knyte | New York, NY | 08/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This review is for the newcomers to electronica like myself: I am a hip hop/pop/R&B cat, but lately, songs by Sonique, Alice Deejay, Paul Van Dyk, ATB, Groove Armada (shall I go on?) as well as my first rave in LA have turned me on to the more electronic side of things...and while this universe is huge with many underground DJs, no other DJ/artist has impressed me more than Mr. Norman Cook, aka Scanty Sandwhich, most commonly known as the one and only, Fatboy Slim.There are three major cuts on this album. The "Rockafeller Skank" is probably the most popular (check it out now...) and it's impossible not to dance when you hear this song. I like the way it updates the 'surfer' sound to the year 2000. Then there's my favorite, "Gangster Tripping" - it sounds a lot like Fatboy Slim's remix of the Beastie Boys' "Body Movin". Both "Body Movin" and "Ganster Tripping" will have you bobbing your head and shaking your rump. Then, there's the very MTV friendly "Praise You". I actually like this song a lot...it's a relaxing, mellow song that's great for driving, especially on long road trips. The rest of the album is good too, but the three songs I just mentioned are indeed, true sonic gems. But wait...you say 'three songs isn't enough to be sold on Fatboy Slim'...well, you're right. But do you like Groove Armada's "I See You Baby" (shakin that...)? Well, it was mixed by Fatboy Slim. How about "Because of You" by Scanty Sandwhich? That was Fatboy Slim too. Basically, FB Slim's trademark is making music that is truly FUNKY, with frantic, playful drum beats...and I think that's so cool. He's not afraid to appeal to headz like myself who appreciate hearing a familiar tune every now and then. I loved the way he played with young Michael Jackson's voice on "Because Of You".This particular genre of techno/electronica is called 'Big Beat'. If you liked "Block Rockin Beats" by the Chemical Brothers (too phat...), or songs by Prodigy (remember "Breathe?) your ears will be Fatboy Slim-compatible. Music can be WAY TOO EXPENSIVE these days...so you've got to be extra choosy when buying whole albums. Be sure the album (or artist) that you invest into is worth your hard earned currency. I think Fatboy Slim is great, and he's definitely not a one hit wonder. I'm impressed enough to buy his music, and as an emerging journalist in the music industry, I'd have to say that along with Paul Okenfold, Fatboy Slim is a true pioneer of electronica, making him an instant legend in the genre of techno/electronica. Newcomers...(i.e. 'I like Alice Deejay' - which is actually trance) start with this one. Then proceed with some more dance compilations to find out who else you're into...otherwise you might get stuck with a CD with one good song, and by then you can't get your money back - but there's no chance of that with this album...Knyte (Trust Me)"

*I* am the funk soul brother!

Bluejack | Seattle, WA | 06/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Holy macroni. 253 people before me have reviewed this in-every-way-pleasing work. What on earth can I say that has not already been said? Probably nothing, but I'll be on top of the list for a couple of weeks maybe, so it worth saying this:This album makes you feel cool. Ok, if I had gotten it three years ago when if first came out, I would have felt a great deal cooler, but when you are into the music you know what? Those three years just don't matter. .... The rhythms, the grooves, the timing. Yeah, it's mostly about the timing on this thing. He has it right. He'll push a loud electronic whine just to the point where it holds your attention and you'll say, hmm, that's a bit loud I wonder if I am pissing off my neighbors, but then he breaks it down, and screw the neighbors, that was perfectly done! That was just right! It's not like they don't play their Hawaii Five Oh soundtrack a little too loud, after all.I buy a lot of electronica these days, and some of it grows a bit stale a bit fast. I have regretted some high-star reviews I have given in the past. Not this one. I waited. I listened to it a hundred times -- no, not in a row, I may like the stuff, but I am not a psycho -- and here's the conclusion:This stuff makes you feel happy. It makes you feel hip. It's got great energy, great texture, and absolutely perfect timing. Over and over again.Are you on the fence? Go on, hit the button. I promise: you won't regret it. Here, tell you what, if you buy it, and you think it's lame, you can blame it on me."

Right On Track

Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 03/10/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Electronica is the type of genre that people can pay attention to and ignore at the same time. How? In this case: "Have you ever heard of Fatboy Slim?" "No." But then that same person is dancing to his songs in the club. Thus, people will dance to anything from any artist in the club, but albums from that same artist may stay on the shelf. One album that shouldn't is You've Come A Long Way, Baby.This is a good title for Slim's sophomore release because he really HAS come a long way since his 1997 debut Better Living Through Chemistry. The album wasn't bad by any means, but it practically buried itself except for the mild club hit "Going Out Of My Head." Some people who actually went to see the movie Go were probably wondering what song that was that kept saying "Dig that gangsta s**t!" Well, it turned out to be this album's first single, "Gangster Tripping," a catchy, ... shaking song that is arguably the best song on the album. Also included is the award-winning "Praise You"-but we mustn't forget "The Rockafeller Skank," one of the few overplayed songs that people DON'T get tired of. People may not know the song by name, or even by artist. But walk into any club and you'll hear it. Watch any commercial and you'll hear it. You'll hear "Right about now/The funk soul brother/Check it out now/The funk soul brother."Keep in mind that Fatboy Slim is not one of those artists that only have good released songs and have the rest of the album be garbage. The hard-rock-driven "Build It Up - Tear It Down" will be sure to strike a chord with alternative fans as well as everyone else, "Soul Surfing" is one big party reminiscent of the summer beach scene, and "Kalifornia"-well, you just have to hear it.Although "Acid 8000" is about three minutes too long, that doesn't stop You've Come A Long Way, Baby from being a winner. It proves that all electronic songs do not sound the same."