Motown Remixed

[ScarySquirrel]

Apparently Universal/Motown have this agenda to reintroduce a new generation of music listeners to "the sound of young America." Personally, I've always been a fan of oldies, whether it's Motown or not (although an alarming amount of quality stuff did come out of Motown), so I already know most of the songs they're remixing. I think most people do anyway... but whatever.

How do you folks feel about it? Going back through the vaults and digging up old stuff to have an "official" remix of it done? This is supposed to be an entire album of cuts like that, and it sounds pretty good to me from the preview tracks. You can listen to some of those right here (http://www.giantstep.net/releases/704).

You also know I have to be "that guy" and point out that DJ Z-Trip has a track no the album too. Scope out the preview tracks though, bring me back some feedback, whatever. Should be a hot album though.

[ms.peachy]

Personally, for me, there's no point and it's not anything I'm likely to buy. But hey if it introduces some kids who might not otherwise be familiar to the greats, then so be it. Can't see as there's any harm in it.

[SobaViolence]

Madlib did a great album based on old Bluenote tracks. One of my favourite albums in my collection. I doubt this remix project will be a re-imagining like Madlib's, but it might help show kids what the music is really about.

[Documad]

Motown sure is good at making money off their old catalog. And I'm sure not paying the original artists. But I got introduced to much of Motown's stuff via a kind of similar gimmick myself, so hopefully it will open some ears.

The Verve label is putting out their third remix CD. I think their remix CDs are crap, but they also released CDs with the original versions of the tracks for about $6 per CD and they were a cheap way to pick up some well-known jazz songs I'd always wanted in the digital format. :)

I heard the new remix of Fever on the radio yesterday and it was painful.

[ScarySquirrel]

Can't see as there's any harm in it.
Well, that's partly why I ask. I know a few die-hard people who would flip out if they knew something like this was going down. They'd consider it a massacre or a masterpiece or something like that, but I really don't think it's fair to make a judgment until you've actually heard the tracks.

I'm looking forward to it simply because I know a lot of the names of the people that did the new production. Z-Trip, ?uestlove, DJ Green Lantern, people like that.

Has anyone given any of the tracks a listen at the site?

[ScarySquirrel]

I actually took a trip down to Motown this weekend and toured the Motown Museum and was supposed to go to a record release type party for this album. That last part fell through, but I did manage to pick up a copy of the album for $9.99 at FYE.

Anyway, I gotta say that this album is a lot better than I was expecting it to be. There's definitely some interesting ways to look at these tracks once they've been given a facelift. Out of the whole thing, there really are only two tracks that I skip over... 'cause they suck.

Anyone else get a chance to pick this thing up? It's really worth the dough, I think. You can preview all the tracks in their entirity at MySpace through this (http://www.myspace.com/motownremixed) page. Check it, y'all.