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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Crazy Itch Radio
by Basement Jaxx
The duo's fourth album includes vocals from Linda Lewis, Lady Marga, and a chorus of 30+ African orphans (hey, we don't make this stuff up).
| LABEL: |
XL |
| RELEASE DATE: |
12 September 2006 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Electronic |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
90
Prefix Magazine
Infectious, progressive, immediate dance music.
88
The Phoenix
So the first-listen impact has been lessened, but the growing affection ends up in the same place as always.
83
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Where past albums like Rooty and especially 2003's Kish Kash seemed intent on eating listeners' brains by way of shuddering rhythms and hyper-dense pastiche, Crazy Itch Radio seems content to just lick those brains and let them get off on the restraint.
83
Entertainment Weekly
The album's energy flags later on, but its highlights are equally suited for dance-floor or headphone listening. [15 Sep 2006, p.77]
80
All Music Guide
At this point, it's impossible to imagine them topping themselves; an album that is merely deeply engaging and wildly entertaining cannot be considered a flop in any way.
80
Observer Music Monthly
Crazy Itch Radio cements Basement Jaxx reputation as Britain's gold-standard dance duo.
80
Urb
Their best album since... Remedy. [Sep 2006, p.131]
80
Slant Magazine
Crazy Itch Radio's not the Sign O' The Times that Rooty fans have been waiting for, but it's a more-than-serviceable Lovesexy.
80
Mojo
A funny, funky and gloriously eccentric stew. [Oct 2006, p.100]
80
Uncut
Adopt[s] a more relaxed approach than 2003's obsessively intricate Kish Kash. [Oct 2006, p.106]
80
Magnet
Crazy Itch Radio is catchy overload. [#73, p.86]
75
E! Online
Crazy and fun, this is for the people who thought Gnarls Barkley's album was a little too tame.
74
Pitchfork
Crazy Itch Radio isn't a bad album by any means; it just doesn't scream "best album of the year" from the moment you put it on.
70
Blender
Way too much fun. [Oct 2006, p.130]
70
Billboard
Nothing here has quite the same panache as club hits like "Bingo Bango" or "Romeo," but "Crazy Itch Radio" nonetheless contains a handful of songs that reassert Basement Jaxx's superior production skills and unfailing ability to get any dance party grooving.
70
PopMatters
Like a nervous listener station-surfing for the next big fix, Crazy Itch Radio is the end result, the space where successive sounds subconsciously collapse upon each other.
67
Stylus Magazine
The transition from tracks to songs forces the group to rein in a style that needs to be no-holds-barred. When Basement Jaxx uses this restraint to their advantage... it’s easy to buy the direction they taken. When it doesn’t, Crazy Itch Radio just makes the group appear dense.
64
Filter
Uncharacteristically lazy beats, chintzy instrumentation, ambiguous "sexy soul" vocalists and third-grade lyrics. [#22, p.96]
63
cokemachineglow
Their experiments have only caused them to stumble off the path they’ve tread, finally tripping to one side of the thin line between smash and schmaltz.
60
Drowned In Sound
If you boarded the good ship 'Jaxx back in the Nineties, Crazy Itch Radio won’t see you throwing yourself overboard any time soon. If you were waving it away from the shore, though, this won’t see you splashing your way through the sea to catch up.
60
The Guardian
Though their daft interludes and kitchen-sink production sound too familiar, Crazy Itch Radio can still surprise.
60
musicOMH.com
For all the colour and flair apparent on Crazy Itch Radio, and despite some genuine gems... a reliance on production and arrangement where some more killer tunes would have worked more memorably is, perhaps, an indication that the Jaxx have, down the years, simply set the bar high.
60
New Musical Express
It's easy enough to ignore until a real stinker passes by. [2 Sep 2006, p.21]
60
Spin
No instant classics... but the productions remain fresh, hype, and kaleidoscopic. [Oct 2006, p.94]
50
Under The Radar
This album feels and sounds like a tossed-off collection of odds and sods instead of an album of A grade tracks. [#15]
50
Q Magazine
Maybe if they had calmed down a bit, Crazy Itch Radio wouldn't be Basement Jaxx's fourth best album. [Oct 2006, p.126]
50
Dot Music
"Crazy Itch Radio"... is the sound of an act running out of steam as it settles for the lowest common denominator with a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders.
40
Playlouder
'Crazy Itch Radio' bumbles along with mid-paced beats and, it seems, too many disparate influences to really hold together.
The average user rating for this album is 6.4 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Read more user comments...
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