Music CD - Juno Reactor: Gods & Monsters

	Music CD: Gods & Monsters Artist: Juno Reactor List Price: $15.99 Our Price: $11.54 Your Save: $ 4.45 ( 28% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: Metropolis Records
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Tracks: 1. Inca Steppa 2. Tokyo Dub 3. Las Vegas Future Past 4. Mind Of The Free 5. Immaculate Crucifixion 6. City Of The Sinful 7. Tanta Pena 8. Perfect Crime (Superman) 9. Pretty Girl
Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0782388053921 Label: Metropolis Records Manufacturer: Metropolis Records Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Metropolis Records Release Date: 2008-04-22 Studio: Metropolis Records
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Better than you think Comment: Juno left some of their old formulas behind, but this is still a Juno album. Don't buy it expecting what you've always heard from them. You will be disappointed. Buy it expecting to hear something new. Art changes. It's not static. If you want the same old predictable thing, then there are a million teenage pop singers who are scrounging for your record dollar. Spend it on them. Customer Rating: Summary: Pretty good change of pace Comment: I'm gonna keep this fairly short because I had a long review all written out and Amazon decided to screw me over and not post it... When I first heard this album I thought it had some good parts to it, but was overall mediocre. However, after waiting a couple weeks to listen to every song all the way through, I have changed my mind. There are many instances of Juno Reactor's classic sound in this album. Some songs take a while to build up and others are slow and more downtempo, which I feel is what threw many people off. They were expecting a certain style from Ben Watkins and were disappointed when they didn't hear it. While it's by no means his best album, it still offers a good amount. I like how he's trying to be more versatile and experiment with new sounds (eg: the vocals in the first and second songs, and the 2nd song in general for that matter). With that said, there are 3 songs that do not belong on this album. Not only are they boring, but they sound nothing like JR. Stay away from Mind of the Free, Perfect Crime, and Pretty Girl and you should enjoy this album. Give the other songs a chance before discarding it as crap because there's some really cool ones. Customer Rating: Summary: Oh dear... Comment: There are a select few groups out there that, when they release a new album, I'll buy it without hesitation. Won't even listen to a single track before I place my order. Juno Reactor was one of them. Emphasis on "was". You can't expect a musical group to keep doing the same thing over and over. They grow, mature, and start exploring different sounds. Sometimes you like the new path they've chosen. Sometimes you don't. I don't like the new direction Juno Reactor has decided to follow. The first thing you may notice with this release is that the overall tempo has slowed down. Like "hit the brakes with both feet" slow. The signature Juno Reactor sounds, instruments, and effects are mostly still there, but instead of quick-moving goa trance-y numbers, there's much more of a lounge / trip-hop influence. Rather than making your pulse race, many of these songs make you feel like nodding off. And the vocals - my gosh, so many vocals! The prime guest vocalist - a fellow by the name of "Ghetto Priest" - brings a sort of Mezzanine-era Massive Attack vibe to the proceedings. I enjoyed that sort of thing - back in 1998. The most unpleasant surprise, however, were the vocals on the last two tracks. My first thought was: "What, they got Nick Cave to grumble and moan his way through these tracks?" But no, what you're hearing is the voice of Juno Reactor himself, Ben Watkins. And no, he can't really sing. There are a few bright spots to the album. Yasmin Levy shines on a heart-pounding "Tanta Pena," and the music of "Inca Steppa" is fantastic. "Tokyo Dub" keeps a mellow vibe going, while throwing in the occasional flourish to keep you interested. But overall, Juno Reactor has gone way off into left field with this one, mining musical territory that has been done better by others. From here on out, I'll be checking every preview and sample I can find before pulling the trigger on another one of their albums. Customer Rating: Summary: THis is awesome Comment: Many people here have obviously voiced their distaste of the latest Juno effort, and I have to say, I completely disagree with most of these reviews. I have every Juno Reactor album Ben has made, and to tell the truth, the production, the structure of these songs...the album as a whole is amazing. Inca Steppa is perhaps one of the coolest Juno songs I have heard, but don't get me wrong here; this entire album is amazing and if Ben reads these I hope he understands that what he has made with this album is a masterpiece. I love the combination of Ben's music and actual vocals, whilst retaining the worldly samples of his previous efforts. The combination of Trip hop and Juno is a combination I hope continues well into the following releases. This is analogous to what Semantic Spaces was for Bill Leeb's project Delerium. SS was the album that set the stage for the following amazing Delerium albums thereafter. God's and Monster's is just that...it sets the stage for Ben's next move. To be honest, due to this release, I am anxiously awaiting with baited breath. Bravo Ben, bravo...this is an amazing work of musical art. Customer Rating: Summary: Juno Reactor is back! Comment: Gods and Monsters continues the long line of Juno Reactor releases in a surprising way and pushes the boundaries that where built on the last album, Labyrinth, to exiting new places. But it is different to say the least. 01. Inca Steppa - It might be the weakest opening title yet, but it does do what every Juno opener should do: Present a new Juno Reactor sound! With that in mind, it is a job well done. The familiar, bubbling Juno Reactor electronics are present, yet the overall tone is different from previous albums. Hearing our English tongue here may be little jarring at first, marking the first ever use of English vocals on a Juno Reactor album, but I think Ghetto Priest fits in well here. He has a nice, soothing quality to his voice. The only problem I have here is that it just isn't as memorable as some of the other first tracks we've heard. It's no Pistolero.(4/5) 02. Tokyo Dub - Reminds me of Mutant Message with its slow powerful rhythm hits and dark nature, but it's three minutes too long. Maybe if Ghetto Priest did a little more flowing over it, then it might've been more digestible, but as it is now I don't think it holds well over its length. (3/5) 03. Las vEgas Future Past - The rising action. This is when we really know we are really in for something different from this record. Yet, I can embrace different Juno and this is indeed tasty material. The echoing horns (a new element) are breathtaking. The second half builds these up along with the main rhythm breakbeat very nicely, leading to an explosion of Juno Reactor sound that kicks you square in the face! Owtch! (5/5) 04. Mind of the Free - Easily skipable, but it forces that new sound we've been hearing. I really like the use of piano. It's relaxing, yet maybe a little too minimal and doesn't really feel like it goes anywhere. I guess I find it a little boring. (2/5) 05. Immaculate Cruxifiction - Turned a pretty good soundtrack (this was originally used in the x-box/PC game, Matrix: Path of Neo) into an amazing song. Things ranging from electric guitar, standard drum set, and strings all formulate a very very chaotic and frenzied sense of energy, similar to what was done on Giant and War Dogs on the last album. Amazing to say the least. (5/5) 06. City of the Sinful - Juno's first "rap" song. It's an amazing one at that though and is unlike anything done before. The main, throbbing beats are incredible and cut through the dark electronics with perfect percision. Ghetto Priest is in top form here, flowing like no one else can. One of my personal favorites. (5/5) 07. Tanta Pena - This is the climax of the album. Like Immaculate Cruxifiction, it also sounds very Labyrinth. A typical, epic Juno Reactor track that we can easily come to expect. (3/5) 08. Perfect Crime (Superman) - The Solaris of Gods and Monsters. Completely pushes that new, different sound we where hearing into full effect. I love the introduction. A lot of people are saying that this should not be labeled as Juno Reactor, but I have to disagree. It just is a very different Juno Reactor with lots of standard drum set and escalating string lines. Ben's vocals are abolutely amazing. (NOTE: Ben Watkins is the founder and point-man of Juno Reactor.) It's nice to hear some vocals from him after so long. This is a very bold move on his part, but I think it was a needed one. (5/5) 09. Pretty Girl - The Song for Ancestors of Gods and Monsters. Takes the new sound even further! It's very experimental and uses a lot of the piano. It's got a nice lighthearted and cheery feeling to it. I think what got a lot of people disappointed with the last two tracks is that they expected epically insane tracks to end the album on. I'm glad we got a little of a 180 at the end here, or else this would've been too much like Labyrinth. (4/5) Ben's Vocals = WIN I think some of you other reviewers here need to give the album a chance and let it sit with you before reviewing. I've had it since it was released in Japan so I have a good feeling for it. It definetely grows on you. Overall though, if you are a Juno fan PICK THIS UP NOW or forever regret it. More Reviews
Editorial Reviews: This is the seventh awakening of Juno Reactor, which has transformed its sound through film music. From The Matrix films ("Reloaded" and "Revolutions"), to his work in the Japanese films "Brave Story" and "Dimension Bomb", composer Ben Watkins' fascination with Japanese animation makes its way to this release. The evolution of Juno Reactor defines the moment; it changes day by day as Watkins surrounds himself with the best musicians that realize a vision consumed by multiple worlds and diverse cultures. Into the mind portals we travel, eternally dancing to the Reactor's hum in a world consumed by "Gods & Monsters".