The Fat Of The Land (studio album) by The Prodigy

From doombringer 02/20/2024 10:38

Energetic , freaking awsome innovative sounds . This album took electronic music to a new powerful level.
If you happen to see the best music-video ever made , remember it was on this album . ''Smack my b**** up'' by swedish genius Jonas Akerlund . Heavily censored by authorities , 'cause they missed the message it had.

The record starts off with a blast and after 'Breathe' the blast continues! Although 'Diesel Power' and 'Funky Shit' don't reach the highs of the first two songs they still keep up the tempo and introduce new ideas and sounds without a flaw. I noticed that after 'Funky Shit' the songs start to blend into one another. Though this new idea doesn't go that well with the following track 'Serial Thrilla' which is mega dated :D sounds like a videogame soundtrack for a monster truck simulator. The chorus ain't that good either and the guitars don't sound good at all. After it though 'Minefields' picks up the pace quite nicely and I really like the instrumentation on the chorus. 'Narayan' really doesn't feel like a 9 minute track and its vocals are really the highlight here. It transitions the maybe the best climax for an album ever?! I feel like the whole album by this point has been building up for 'Firestarter'! Absolutely stunning, aggressive, thick bass monster of a track. Everything about it is great, literally! 'Climbatize' leaves me speechless too, the instrumental is one of the best on the whole album and also doesn't feel 7 minutes long. It would be a perfect closer, but for some reason the band goes for 'Fuel my fire' to tie things up? It's a good song, but not as a closer - more like a bonus track.
I also gotta mention a few things for the whole album that made an impression on me. Firstly, although the album is 1 hour long it really doesn't feel like it and it makes me listen to it again and again! The second thing is that at times it feels kinda dated - thats both in its advantage and disadvantage maybe. It's charming sometimes and really boring at other times.

The three big hits are absolutely phenomenal with the rest of the album not being up to the same level but there are a few hidden gems scattered amongst the record. The opening track perfectly encapsulates the music and sound of this album for me and it is a song I can't stop repeating every time I hear it. They know how to make catchy songs and this is best evidenced on this release. The whole album is just pure energy which they harness and use to create great music. However, the record can drag a little especially on a few of the weaker cuts where it seems a little elongated and you do find yourself waiting for the next big track. Overall, there is a lot of brilliance on here and the music is a lot of fun to listen to if you allow yourself to get into it.

I rate this in the same category as Metallica's 'Black album'. The album that bought the band to the attention of the masses. I was one within those masses. My introduction to them. Loved it and have since acquired many of their other albums. This still holds as my favorite by far. Early hardcore fans would of called them a 'sell out'. Just as with Metallica, I d disagree. It just gave them a whole new fan base.

At the time of release I just never got into this - I was more Floyd and Reggae rather than this electronic dance tempo. But I've gotten round to it again for a listen in 2022 with a whole journey of new genres and albums behind me and I see what I missed - ah enlightenment and growth.

Album Rating: 76.70
(767/10)

1. "Smack My Bitch Up" (featuring Shahin Badar) 5:42 - 78
2. "Breathe" 5:35 - 85
3. "Diesel Power" (featuring Kool Keith) 4:17 - 73
4. "Funky Shit" 5:16 - 66
5. "Serial Thrilla" 5:11 - 65
6. "Mindfields" 5:40 - 79
7. "Narayan" (featuring Crispian Mills) 9:05 - 85
8. "Firestarter" 4:41 - 78
9. "Climbatize" 6:38 - 72
10. "Fuel My Fire" (L7 cover; featuring Saffron) 4:19 - 86

One of my top 5 electronic albums easily. Every song is memorable, Funky Shit is the only weak song for me. My favourites are Breathe and Diesel Power.

Reminded me of 1977 with the attitude and sheer power in delivery. Breath, climbatise and of course firestarter are highlights. Smack my bitch up is unpleasant in subject matter though and unnecessary in its controversial intent.

The album when they gave up on their dance-orientated British sound and completely sold out to American guitar-loving, rapping audiences, which they are allowed to do, but for me this is their third best album. Good memories though and some great moments.

From Timestarter 05/29/2020 13:27

Fav. Tracks: Smack My Bitch Up, Breathe, Narayan, Firestarter, Climbatize, Fuel My Fire.