The Prodigy Album: “Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1”

That's right! In my humble opinion, I think Liam Howlett has made one THE best DJ mix albums (along with The Chemical Brothers' Brothers Gonna Work It Out) I've ever heard...and I've heard quite a few. From intro to conclusion, there's always a surprise waiting for you. the way Liam mixes Chemical Bros.' "Chemical Beats" with Ultramagnetic MC's "Kool Keith Housing things" was just awesome, adding Hip-Hop beats to Charlatans UK's "How High" and blending Jane's Addiction with KRS-One...pure genious. The best thing is that you get a lot of this. Babe Ruth's "The Mexican" with B-Boys' Rock da House, Meat Beat Manifesto's "Radio Babylon" with Propellerheads (which is layered with Beastie Boys rapping from "The New Style"), Sex Pistols with Fatboy Slim, JVC Force with Primal Scream, then Public Enemy... the list goes on and on. Basically, there's highlights in all the tracks and make you wonder: "How did he do that". Being a music lover, I love the tracks that he chose maybe 'cause I have quite a few of them in their original form. If you love old school Hip-Hop, Electronica and Rock, then this is definately an album for you. I know theres people who think this sucks because "It's just not Prodigy", but this is just to give you an idea what influences Liam has had to make the music Prodigy makes, so I hope if you do buy this, you'll listen to this with an open mind...enjoy!

Let's get one thing clear before we start this review: if you are not familiar with the concept of a mix album, DO NOT get this CD. You'll just end up listening to it and feeling ripped off, and when you post your review to warn everyone else that Dirtchamber doesn't have any new songs, you'll look like an idiot.

Now, that being said, this isn't even a standard mix album; it's more like a huge (and I mean HUGE) megamix of Liam Howlett's record collection. This CD provides a glimpse into the music that inspires Howlett, from a large variety of genres. If you're the type of person who listens to techno or hip-hop and tries to identify the source of the samples, you're going to love this.

Since this is not an easy album to listen to casually, here are a few highlights you can be listening for:

--The origin of The Prodigy's most controversial hook

These are but a few of the surprises waiting for you, if you're willing to take the risk of buying a Prodigy album that doesn't really work on the dance floor.

For starters if your expecting Prodigy, dont ! Expect Liam Howlett spinning vinyl...and believe me, in a fun, groovy-refreshulous way... The Dirt Chamber Sessions Volume One is nothing less than a classic mix. Liam Howlett's Dirt Chamber will fill your speakers with funky, old school beats mixed with artist such as: the Beatie Boys, the Chemical Brothers, Frankie Bones, Meat Beat Manifesto, Propeller Heads, Janes Addiction, and FatBoy Slim to name a few. What else can I say ..? Most Excellent !

Why expect that Prodigy dish out album after album, all the same? Although this DJ mix contains a lot of hip hop, Prodigy fans who have actually been following the history of the band would know that this was to be a DJ mix as opposed to Howlett's own work. Doesn't one listen to *every* CD one buys, Prodigy notwithstanding just because of one's expectations?

Other people who have written reviews complain "oh, it's not typical Prodigy." Well let me tell you something, there IS NO SUCH THING as "typical" Prodigy; they change just like everything else, they develop just like everything else. And for those of you who don't like the kind of music Liam Howlett has demonstrated as his "mentor," you really should expand your horizons ...

People who come here looking for a prodigy cd, don't expect anything. This is basically Liam Howlett releasing a mix CD of his own via the prodigy name and record label. The mix-tape is simply awesome, he really blends things well, and i have friends who are breakers who just adore this CD. Liam knows how to not only make good beats, but also create good beats too. Buy this if you like DJ-ish type things and what not. Don't get this if you wanna hear that normal prodigy stuff. Of course, if you're a real fan then you'll just buy about anything.