Artist: Crystal Method
Album Title: Community Service II
Label: Ultra Records
Bones:
Summary: More charitable work from Las Vegas dance duo
Reviewed By: Chad Bosworth

Welcome to the second installation in the Community Service catalogue; The Crystal Method's gift to Club trippers and fans alike. Let's not create confusion - it's not a studio album, but a collection of TCM remixes and favourite tracks mixed into a DJ set that the locals would call a "session".

Sessions (or "mixtapes", as they're also known) are becoming more popular as CD releases, and definitely more common, which gives the impression that they're all a bit generic. This is particularly conceivable given that the content is usually strictly directed at the club market (and even more specifically the Trance scene).

The Community Service series is no exception to this trend, however it does stand alone in it's material. Where other compilations focus on the current chart -busters, The Crystal Method have taken a selfish approach in working with a blend of their own tracks (usually remixed by others), their own remixes (of other's tracks), or just tracks they like (that really have nothing at all to do with them). And it works. Well.

From start to finish it's a fantastic ready-made non-stop party mix with elements of Trance, Progressive House and TCM's trademark Rock sound. Dancefloor fans will just want to start at track 1 and do their thing, whereas fans may want to hone in on a few particulars and fan their way out. I suggest the following order for the best skin-tingling effect:

First - "The Crystal Method vs The Doors" (Roadhouse Blues Mix). Absolutely unbelievable. It's almost as if Mr Morrison had heard the tempo the Vegas duo wanted to work with and wrote the original accordingly. Goosebumps. Everytime.

Second - "1979" (New Originals 1799 Remix). Again, a phenomenal track. Followers of both the Method and the Pumpkins will be knee-deep in their element.

Third - "Reign" (False Prophet Mix). An awesome UNKLE track featuring Ian Brown of the Stone Roses, reworked to feel at home among the other big beats.

The list could go on. However, if you don't want to listen to it now (rather than read about it) - it's probably not for you anyway.