Le roi est mort, vive le roi
R O C K E T | The Twin Cities, MN | 07/23/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Cosmicity is one of my all-time favorite bands (er, I should say "artists" since it's really just one guy). I love pretty much everything he puts out. The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is that I question aspects of the tracklist that he chose. There are a few songs that I would definitely swap for other songs if I could - I don't think "Digital Delays," "Orange," "Fate and Time," "As Long As It Takes," and especially "This City" (one of my least favorite Cosmicity songs) are among his best. They're good, mind you, just not as good as many that are missing here. I can't believe there's no "Visionary," "Self Involved," "Darkness," or "Defeat" - they're all singles, and are much better than some of those others. Also, I wish the tracklist was more mixed up instead of in reverse chronological order. And it really annoys me that this begins with the same song that his last album started with. "In Flight" would've been better. Oh well. It's still an awesome cd of course, and a great place to start for new fans. Otherwise, I'd check out his three best albums, which are all good from start to finish: "Isabella," "Pure," and "Escape Pod for Two.""
Essential pop music, candy for the ears!
D. H. Richards | Silver Spring, MD USA | 06/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you have never heard "modern synthpop" this Cd might just be a good place to start. Cosmicity was one of the first bands to tap into the early internet and "revive" synthpop, which was all but dead by 1996. Their first couple of albums, self released, appealed to an online audience starved for bright hooks and dancey beats.
Make no mistake (hehehe) this is POP MUSIC- not much different than Britney or Backstreet Boys, except, oh yeah, it is really actually quite good. But if you are looking for rawk then please move along.
This is a best of, so if you are a casual fan go back and pick up the albums first. But for super-uber fans and newbies this is the place to be. The bonus DVD is a riot btw.
Track by track (the songs are in reverse chronological order, newest to oldest, so it kinda goes from super polished to sweetly naive):
1. Sedgwick - ultra low key, cool tune about, well, Sedgwick. And trains
2. In Flight - more trancey from the band
5. I Want You - an yearning love song set to a lite disco beat.
6. The Princess Of Detroit -an yearning love song set to a light disco beat.
9. Digital Delays - A love song couched as a song about technology.
10. Technology - one of the band's better songs, a love song couched as a song about technology, set to a lite disco beat.
11. Orange (Dance Mix) - Not very disco... just kidding! Orange is a great song with witty lyrics set to a lite disco beat.
14. As Long As It Takes The song that turned me on to Cosmicity- a super tune, a love song (etc. etc.)
15. Alone
16. Crucify
17. Your Beautiful Lie
18. Isabella
15-18 The band still trying to find its way but sounding like a decent rough sketch.
19. Automatic (previously unreleased) - good, but nothing earth shattering.
So there you have it. I may sound like I am damning it with faint praise, but that's just because I think you should get all the albums and not JUST the best of.
"
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1