Various Artists - Hackers 2: Music From And Inspired By The Original Motion Picture "Hackers"

No ordinary 'inspired by' CD

While I usually feel hesitant to purchase 'Inspired by' CDs, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this CD topped the original Hackers CD. The music on this one was as good and even better! I believe none of the songs were actually in the movie, but the music is similar and full of energy and thump.

A great addition to the collection. If you liked this one or the original hackers, you should also look to purchase hackers 3 as it was my favorite of all series. May 24, 2006

Awesome CD

If you like electronic music and liked the hackers soundtrack, buy THIS volume. It has a very good selection of music, and not so common tunes from the artists involved. If you are an electronic music fan it's quite possible that you have already many tracks of the first volume. I can't say the same thing about volume two, which in my opinion has a far better selection.

Honestly... buy it NOW. You won't regret it. January 25, 2005

Great Soundtrack - if you like Techno

I love techno, so I really got into this Album. The mix is excellent, and it makes great music for a party. But if you don't like hard-core techno like Prodigy, you probably won't enjoy this album. Warning: if you play this in the car, you're likely to drive 15 miles over the speed limit! :) April 27, 2004

One of my favorite soundtracks

"Hackers" may have been a not-so entertaining movie (to me) but the music that went along with the film was and still is awesome. I only have the first two volumes. I like the original soundtrack slightly more but the second volume is quite good. Either way, "Hackers" has some of the hottest techno acts today, from Prodigy to the legendary Orbital. A former roommate owned "Hackers 2" and I immediately fell in love with it. Gotta love the Emirion Mix of Prodigy's "Firestarter". I wasn't big on the original version of "Firestarter" but I thought the Empirion Mix gave the song a much added energy that the original version was lacking. Plus the remix is a lot more danceable than the original version. "Hackers 2" was my first introduction to Brian Transeau (aka BT). The same can be said about Chicane. I just loved Luce Drayton's "To Be Loved" (Disco Citizens R+D Edit). Luce reminds me quite a bit like dance diva Jan Johnston. I wasn't really wild about the intro to Orb's "Toxygene" but once I got passed the samples, I got into the actual song. I just could have lived without the cluttered noises in the beginning. I think Leftfield's "Original" is one of the sexiest songs around thanks in part to Curve's Toni Halliday. "Original" certainly has a trip hoppy element to the song. I wasn't really crazy with the original version of David Bowie's "Little Wonder" however I thought the Danny Saber Dance Mix made the song much more interesting (just like the Empirion Mix of "Firestarter"). I wasn't too big on Scooter's "Fire". It just wasn't one of my favorite songs on the cd. Overall "Hackers 2" certainly is one of my favorite soundtracks that uses today's hottest techno acts around. September 5, 2003

Now here's a great cd. . .

The Second Hackers Soundtrack (Review)

Artist Name: Multiple Artists
CD Title: Hackers: The Soundtrack 2
Description: If someone asks me what techno is about, and what the best cds are to get, I tell them to get this one. Without a doubt, this cd is the BEST electronica album all time, encompassing (almost) all the best trance/house/dance/techno artists around, utterly blowing away the other two Hackers cds.

Note: My burnt version of the cd does not have "Go", by Moby, which is a great song, and only adds to the greatness of the soundtrack.

Songs:

Firestarter (Empirion Mix) - Prodigy

My Comments: The first song on the cd is a hard-hitting, eight minute mind-blower that every other cd revolves around. Although nothing like the original Firestarter, the Empirion mix is no less, if not more, incredible. I can't say much about this song, except that you have to listen to it In all aspects, it is flawless, if not perfect.

Rating: 10/10

Toxygene - Orb

My Comments: A great song, by one of the most well known techno artists in the industry! This song has heavy bass is one of the most original electronic songs I've ever heard. It's could almost be considered a "classic" Notice: just because you like this song, don't go buying Orb's other cd's! Their other cds are nothing like this song (mostly), and you may (or may not) like their other albums.

Rating: 9/10

Little Wonder (Danny Saber Dance Remix) - David Bowie

My Comments: One of the best dance songs on the cd! Hell, it IS the best dance song, even though I don't like it too much. I never thought anything with David Bowie in it could be cool, and except for this one song, nothing can, anyway.

Rating: 9/10

Fire - Scooter

My Comments: One of Scooter's best songs OF ALL TIME! Even though every one of the Hacker's songs are great party tracks, this is the one that IS THE BEST. If the Bowie remix doesn't get people dancing, this'll get them jumping, and if they don't in any way positively respond to this song, they're dead. Notice: If you like this song, go get all of Scooter cds.

Rating: 10/10

Narcotic Influence 2 - Empirion

My Comments: Incredible. Possibly my favorite song on the cd. This has a cool, smooth lasting appeal that truly does border on the edge of having a narcotic effect on one. Although not EVERYONE will like this song, many will, but some may find it a bit boring. My friend said,"It's like a boring version of the Firestarter remix, except without any climaxes." Well, both songs are done by the same artist, Empirion (The Firestarter remix is really nothing like the original song!), and admittedly, although it is nothing bad, alot of his songs are alike

Rating: 10/10

Remember - BT

My Comments: I guess every song on this cd wins one sort of award or another, and this wins for MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG. It is entrancing, heart-felt and driven by incredible female lyrics. Some, (only those with immature music tastes) may find this unnappealing and mellow, (I even did at first!) but I beg to differ! This song is fast paced with tons of electronic elements in it, and BT is (in my opinion) the best electronic artist to blend female vocals with electronica. This is a perfect song.

Rating: 10/10

Go - Moby

My Comments: What can I say? It's a great dance song, nothing spectacular or remarkable, but nothing bad about the song, either. I'm not the biggest Moby fan, and I enjoy a lot of his music, and this is one of the party tracks that he's most well known for. (Next to. . . Bodyrock, perhaps.)

Rating: 9/10

Inspection (Check One) - Leftfield

My Comments: This wins the coolest song on the cd award. Combining heavy bass and head-nodding rythm with brilliant electronic aspects, something which Leftfield does best. This is, IMO, Leftfield's best song they have ever made. In FACT, this is my second favorite hip hop sort of techno that I've ever listened to (Smartbomb, by BT, my number #1)

Rating: 9.5

Cherry Pie - Underworld

My Comments: What can I say? It's Underworld, and this is the only place (I think) where you can get this masterpiece. It doesn't, in any way, change or redefine Underworld's image, only refines it, definetely one of my favorite songs by them. Not everyone will like this song, as many don't prefer Underworld's kind of electronica.

Rating: 9.5

To Be Loved (Disco Citizens R-D Edit) - Luce Drayton

My Comments: I don't know who the hell Drayon is, but it's still a pretty good song (I'd hate to hear the original version!!). Actually, it still gets a really high rating, but is probaly the least best song on the cd, the female vocals and entire song being enshadowed by BT's massive Remember track. If you like this song, you'll like Remember alot more. That's all I can say.

Rating: 8.5/10

Speed Freak (Moby Remix) - Orbital

My Comments: Definetely the fastest, wildest song on the soundtrack. There is no other techno song like this, by anyone. (Except, of course, for the original song. If you like this, you'll like Moby, but you still might not like much of Orbital's stuff. (I didn't like In Sides, although Middle of Nowhere was one of my favorites). My friend thinks this song is freaking awesome, and it is.

Rating: 10/10

Get Ready To Bounce(Radio Attack) - Brooklyn Bounce

My Comments: What the hell is a "radio attack"? I guess they mean "radio edit", but anyway, it's still a great song, keeping up the pace near the end of the cd. My friend and I call it the "Kool-aid" song, because it sounds like the song off a koolaid commercial. (Although this song came out, like four years before the commercial, so we should be calling the koolaid commercial the brooklyn bounce commerical!)

Rating: 9/10

Offshore (Disco Citizens Edit) - Chicane

My Comments: An entrancing, soothing song which was smartly left for the near-end of the cd. Incredibly beautiful, almost as beautiful as Remember. (Even though the two songs are NOTHING alike!) Although surprisingly short, even shorter than most pop songs, which I thought was odd, I still loved it, and still do love it, although I not crazy over it like most of the other songs.

Rating: 10/10

Original - Leftfield

My Comments: At once haunting and beautiful, with the dreary, smooth female lyrics making the song a definite legend. That's about all I can say about this brilliant track. Listen to it yourself, and you'll find out why it's so good. Maybe that is because no other electronic sounds anything like it. . .

Rating: 10/10

Overall/Average Rating: 9.5

The Best Songs: Firestarter Mix, Fire, Narcotic Influence 2, Remember, Original
The Worst Songs: To Be Loved

Best Song: Firestarter (Empirion Mix) - Prodigy
Worst Song: To Be Loved (Disco Citizens R-D Edit) - Luce Drayton

Highest Score: 10/10
Lowest Score: 8.5/10 September 14, 2001

More reviews at Amazon.com ...