ultra: chilled 01 (disk 1)

various

ultra, 2001

Mood—Loungey, commercial.

Sample: "Destiny" by Zero 7

Thoughts— I'm not sure if it's possible or necessary to review a compilation album, especially when the compilation was created as a label sampler. But hey, I'm going to do it anyways.

If memory serves me, I purchased this album at the Virgin Megastore at Disney World, and it was probably the best thing I did while there.

Compilations albums are a safe way to try a lot of music out, and in this case, I think it served its purpose quite well. You have high profile names on the album, like Massive Attack and Morcheeba, with new (at the time) acts like Gorillaz and Royksopp, major crowd pleasers. I'm sure that I bought mroe than one album because of a song I heard here.

Instead of talking about individual tracks or an overall concept, I'll just do a quick rundown of my thoughts on each track:

"Here With Me", a grea song with a really interesting new opening mix, but it's not at all indicative of how the rest of the album feels. I strange intro.

"New Genious", good song, can't complain here.

"Sure Thing", this is a typical compilation "Track 3", meaning it's a filler track after the two first good songs. It's forgettable.

"Blindfold", Morcheeba is fantastic, and if you want a compliation lounge album, they should probably be on it.

"Swollen", an amazing song by a fantastic band. This is the first I'd heard of Bent, and I definitely wanted more after this song.

"Eple", same as above. Royksopp is fantastic.

"Hymn of the Big Wheel", a poor choice for a Massive Attack song. While fans may enjoy this one, you're not going to get new listeners interested. It's got a very smarmy tone.

"Original Bedroom Rockers", another filler track.

"The Glass Bead Game", again, not really my first choice of a Thievery Corp. track. It's okay.

"Destiny" by Zero 7, by comparison, a great choice. Probably the most notable track from their first album, and a definite crowd pleaser. I'd like to personally thank Zero 7 for putting the world on to the amazing work of Sia. Her vocals are incredible.

"Utopia", a fine track.

"The Shining", I'm surprisingly into this song. It's completely different than everything else on the album, and is a bright change at this point in the disk.

"Nights Interlude", perhaps the only good song by Nightmares On Wax. Why don't they do more like this one?

"Daydream In Blue", a poor choice for the final track. They should have left this one completely off the disk... it's frivolous and ruins the mood that the preceding 13 tracks laid down.

Recommended? As far as compilation albums with "hot chicks" on the front go, the Ultra series is probably the best, and the first one is probably the best of the Ultra series. If you don't already own most of these bands' albums, pick this up.

Link—amazon.com

Tracklist
1. Here With Me by Dido
2. New Genious by Gorillaz
3. Sure Thing by St. Germain
4. Blindfold by Morcheeba
5. Swollen by Bent
6. Eple by Royksopp
7. Hymn of the Big Wheel by Massive Attack
8. Original Bedroom Rockers by Kruder + Dorfmeister
9. The Glass Bead Game by Thievery Corporation
10. Destiny by Zero 7
11. Utopia by Goldfrapp
12. The Shining by Badly Drawn Boy
13. Nights Interlude by Nightmares On Wax
14. Daydream In Blue by i monster