Faithless - Outrospective

From the outset, with Donny X's spine-tingling synth-swathes and brooding sub-bass, it's evident that Outrospective plays to Faithless's strengths. The band has always been more than just a dance act. Deft practitioners of all areas of modern music, their specialties are texture, seductive atmosphere, and haunting melodrama. The single "We Come 1" has a familiar sound, combining Rollo's unnerving soundscapes, Sister Bliss's dance-floor mentality, and rapper Maxi Jazz's deadpan voice to recall the power of "Insomnia" from their 1997 release Reverence. "We Come 1," like "Tarantula" and "Machines R Us," also represents an increase in bpms that reasserts their club relevance--something which had diminished with their last long-player, the downcast Sunday 8pm. There's also a more up-tempo vibe present, with the gorgeous "One Step too Far" featuring the inevitable appearance of Rollo's sister Dido), and the Philly soul of "Muhammad Ali," with Maxi Jazz singing the praises of his childhood hero. But the lure of their third album, as ever, lies in Maxi Jazz's chilling monologues. The voice of inner thoughts, desires, and conflict, there's nothing quite as arresting as when he quietly muses on "Not Enuff Love": "Money in my pocket / But I just can't give no love." --Dan Gennoe Amazon.com

 A Must Have For the Time But Aging Poorly
I really loved this album when it first came out. A nice mixture of vocals (both male and female), downtempo and more uptempo beats. The album pretty much has it all. However listening to it today (with admittedly a more critical ear), reveals plenty of cheesy lyrics and an overly repetitive deep organ-type synthesized sound that is very outdated in today's world of electronica. Still, no regrets in buying yet another successful album by Faithless.

3/5 stars. October 26, 2007

 A Classic
While some electronica songs are able to survive the years, it is rare that an entire electronica album can do the same.

To this day, this is still a go to album. You can just hit play at track 1 and forget it until the album finishes. In fact, Outrospective should really be listened to the whole way through as it tells a story, running the emotional gamut from the lows we experience in life to the highs when we feel a sense of great accomplishment.

At the same time, the emotions the album induces seem to transcend our daily lives, and give a sense that there is a lot more to these experiences.

Overall, a very empowering album with lots of catchy tunes! June 9, 2007

 Contemplative Lyrics and Addictive Grooves
"Fields of fire that passed the train
The sky is victorious but here comes the rain
Friday is taking me home again,
And I've nothing but you on my mind."
~Crazy English Summer

If you want to escape into mind numbing beats, Not Enuff Love may not be the track to listen to as it will often draw you deep into thought. There is however a sinking into musical pleasure as the contemplative lyrics roll along in addictive grooves.

"Crazy English Summer" stands out as a stunningly beautiful piece of musical perfection. The first time I heard this song I stopped in my tracks and replayed the song for what seemed like hours. The depth of emotion is quite profound and notes seem to float in a musical ether, echoing across night skies. "Evergreen" also has a similar ecstasy and gives me shivers. I find myself turning up the volume and feeling a little breathless.

The various styles on this album range so dramatically that you never remain in one mood for long. Except listening to this album tends to make me feel happy, young, energetic and free.

"The Birds are calling to me and
All the leaves I came to love are falling
Ribbons on evergreen, owls that pull them apart
I can hear you singing my funny valentine
Oh you know that breaks my heart
Hold the choirs of winter,
The Birds are calling to me and
All the leaves I came to love"
~Evergreen

~The Rebecca Review
July 13, 2006

 This is god!
This Album is amazing, one of the best I've got, it's got a mix of relaxing and up beat tracks! If ur a faithless fan No Roots and Outrospective are the real treasures for you. March 16, 2005

 AN AMAZING BLEND OF TECHNO AND HIP-HOP
Yeah there is more techno than hip-hop, but it still sounds amazing. I was msemerized by the amzing sound I heard when listening to this. Man oh man. Muhammad Ali is one of the best hip-hop song I have ever heard. Tarantula is the best techno song I have ever heard. We come 1 is a close second. Zoe does sound amazing, and Dido does sound like an angel. When you combine amazing lyrical content and skill, with amazing beats, there is nothing better. This is what Faithless has always offered, and this CD is the epitome of their skill.
Man I wanted this CD for so long. I'm a big Faithless fan. I finally got it, and it surpassed my high expectations. This is really for open minded listeners. And like someone said, some part of Tarantula will make you want to get up and dance. January 27, 2005

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