Palookaville [Explicit Lyrics]

I'm a big fan of Norman Cook's earlier work. I produce electronic music myself, and have allways found Cook's music very inspiring. In my book, he's a creative genius! So how good is his new album?

"Don't Let the Man Get You Down" is classic Fatboy Slim. This track could have been on "You've Come a Long Way Baby", it's that good! Rating: 5/5

"Slash Dot Dash" is a bit annoying and is my least favorite track on the CD. I don't like the main sample very much. Rating: 2/5

"Wonderful Night" has got a really nice groove and some nice breaks. Rating 4/5

"Long Way From Home" sounds like something from "From the Gutters to the Stars". It's a bit of a filler. Rating: 3/5

"Put It Back Together", has got some really good samples in it, and good singing to. The bass playing is really good here! There's a break here that really lifts the whole track to another level. It's the high point of the album! Rating: 5/5

"Me Bebé Masoquista" is a bit of a mess and points in too many directions. Still, it's got some catching samples and breaks. Rating: 3/5

"Push and Shove" is another filler. Rating: 3/5

"North West Three" starts with some atmospheric strings and has got a really good main sample. Again, I like the bass here. Rating 4/5

"The Journey", again, some really good samples. This track really showcases Cook's talent for bringing together samples to create something new and special. The singing is also very good. Rating: 5/5

"Jin Go Lo Ba" has got a great intro and brings out the party animal in Fatboy Slim once again. Much better than "Slash Dot Dash". Rating: 4/5

"Song for Chesh" has got a nice intro and bass playing. Very original. Rating: 5/5

"The Joker" is the last track, and is a "feel-good" track and cover that rounds of the album very well. Rating: 4/5

"Palookaville" is a bit of a mixed bag. There are some great moments here, like "Don't Let the Man Get You Down" and "Put it Back Together", but there are also some fillers here that brings the overall impression down. I don't think this record will appeal to the big public masses like "You've Come a Long Way Baby", but Fatboy fans should not miss it! There are some really great moments here, like the intro to "Jin Go Lo Ba" or the string sample from "Song for Chesh".

Overall rating: 4/5

More live instruments and celebrity collaboraters and vocalists give this album more rounded edges and feelgood factor than the previous Fatboy albums and at the same time I think a little bit less raw excitement. There are no tracks which would make you jump on the dance floor at the first few bars, but (a few swear words apart) you wouldn't mind your kids listening to it - in fact mine are singing the sample from "Don't Let The Man Get You Down" right now!

I personally can't get Bootsie Collins's vocals from "The Joker" out of my head - several people have been surprised by me telling them I love their peaches and can I shake their tree! Altogether a 'slow burner' that I have been listening to every day and getting into more each time.

The CD starts with a 'Between the Gutter and the Stars' style track and then shoots straight into 'Slash Dot Dash' (a la 'You've come a long way baby'). The tracks then manage to move from Big Beat to chill-out seamlessly making it the perfect CD for any occasion.

My highlight though is the album's finish.... a beautiful version of Steve Miller's 'The Joker' - VERY nicely done!

Buy this CD. You won't be disapointed.