1999 release from the acclaimed alternative rock/ rap trio from New York, an 11 track collection of lounge versions of hits, covers & more, including 'Scooby Snacks', 10cc's 'I'm Not In Love', Climax Blues Band's 'Couldn't Get It Right' and The Blasters' 'I'm Shaking'. Album Description
 |  | Frustratingly inconsistent |  |
Well, here the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the Fun Lovin' Criminals rears its head again. Serving as a one-album embodiment of the dichotomy between Come Find Yourself (FLC's awesome and energetic debut album) and 100% Colombian (the weaker and slothful follow-up), Mimosa is annoyingly schizophrenic, alternating fast-paced and memorable songs of the Come Find variety with droning, faceless ones like those that made up most of Colombian. If you liked the energy of Come Find Yourself, you'll love the opening track, Couldn't Get It Right, a spunky piece that is sure to get your toes tapping. The closing track, I'll Be Seeing You, features the same style of jazzy crooning (but is only 1:20 long! What a rip-off!). Fans of the slower, moody style of 100% Colombian will feel right at home with most of the middle tracks, like Shining Star, I'm Not In Love, and The Summer Wind. However, the album doesn't really offer more than a sampler of any one style, and that's what makes it so annoying. If it's meant to be fun to listen to, why are there depressing numbers like I'm Not In Love and The Summer Wind, and a sedated version of I Can't Get With That which lets all the air out of the original's tires? If it's meant as a "lounge album," why does it have a comical cover of Ozzy Osbourne's Crazy Train? In either case, why did they butcher perfectly good songs like Bombin' the L and We Have All the Time in the World with superfluous and silly remixes? (The luau-themed We Have remix is especially atrocious) And what in blazes is the uniquely spooky remix of Coney Island Girl doing there? While most of the songs are at least listenable, and several are actually quite good (Couldn't Get It Right and Coney Island Girl come to mind), the whole thing just doesn't gel... it has no idea where it's going or what it's trying to do. To add injury to insult, it will take a huge chunk out of your wallet because it's only available as an import. In the end, it leans more towards the 100% Colombian side, so if you liked that style more than Come Find Yourself, this might be worth looking into. But I would not recommend it to anyone expecting another Come Find Yourself, nor would I recommend it to anyone who is not already familiar with the FLC... it's too uneven to really give you any kind of idea what they're about.
June 7, 2001 | | All the Schmoove in the World | |
Let's see... Imagine driving in your 200+bhp cabrio alongside some of the best beaches around. From one side you have blue sea golden sand and the breeze in your hair. From the other the richest collection of beach-babes with all the necessary attributes. And with nothing to worry about. At all. Got it? What do say? Paradise? No it is not. Now... if you put the Mimosa on.... that's Paradise
March 1, 2001As a great fan of the fun lovin criminals I was very curious about this album. It is a very slow but chill album. With a couple of good remixes and new songs. The first number is very good and the remix of the classic Scooby Snacks is also very good. This album sounds very good and after listening to it a few times you know the numbers quite well. If this is the first CD you wanna buy from the fun lovin criminals I suggest you first buy one of the other two. If you like one of those you will have to get this one for sure!
November 6, 2000The Fun Lovin' Criminals go lounge...an interesting idea.
Mimosa's opening track is certainly one of the album's stronger points, Couldn't Get It Right moves along at a steady, chilled-out rhythm and sets the scene for the rest of the CD.
Having listened to the first five tracks, you may stretch out on the sun-lounger, sip that Margherita and smile smugly to yourself, knowing that you've struck gold. Until...
...The Summer Wind. This track blows the whole CD wide apart. Huey is no crooner (I would suggest comparing this rendition to that of Sinatra's, but that is too far beyond the pale), and the collaboration with Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen fails miserably. Unfortunately, this track emphasises the vocal weakness of the entire album, which is a shame, as it is quite easy to overlook such short-comings in light of the excellent arrangements throughout the CD.
All in all - bronze masquerading as gold. Well worth the money if you're a fan already - if not, then check out 100% Columbian. June 19, 2000
This is the most groovy album I have ever listened to. It is also an album you can listen to in every mood and you always seem to lie on the beach. The album contains 6 covered songs. After you listened to the first three songs you know you will buy it. Less upbeat and the bass only in the background make this CD so great.
February 1, 2000More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(6 reviews)