The Bottom Line
Crates: Remix Fundamentals Vol. 1 is the first in a series of albums that showcase the skills of various DJs as they remix songs by one of America's best and most talented R&B/Soul singers, Philadelphia native Jill Scott. Crates, which was released in the U.S. June 26, 2012 may have been meant as a way to put a new spin on older material -- figuratively and literally -- but it also shows that even when taken out of their natural element of mellow contemplation and introspection, and then revved up and reconfigured into dance tracks, Jill's smooth, sumptuous vocals are still musical candy to the ears.
Pros
- Hot new dance mixes.
Cons
- The music is separated into three volumes, coming out a month apart.
Description
- DJ mixes of Jill Scott songs.
- Eleven new remixes.
- Production by Jazzy Jeff, Ca$e Boogie, Teddy Vee and others.
Guide Review - Album Review: Jill Scott - 'Crates: Remix Fundamentals Vol. 1'
On June 26, 2016, Jill Scott's former label, Hidden Beach Recordings, released the first volume of an ambitious three-part series of remixes of songs from Jill's first three studio albums. And at first, Jill's songs may seem like an odd choice to remix into dance tracks. After all, she's a poetic R&B/Soul artist who's best known for her mellow, warm-as-sunshine contemplative tracks about love and inner feelings. Dance music, on the other hand, is pretty much the opposite: a lot of it is fast paced, surface deep and meant to be enjoyed while shaking a tail feather or two.
But despite the seemingly odd mash-up of styles, Crates Vol. 1 not only works, but for the most part, works quite well. The powers-that-be behind this project were smart enough to stay away from Jill's bigger and better-known songs on the album's first half, although two, "A Long Walk" and "Golden" appear in remix form toward the album's end. But they, like the other nine songs here, have been reconfigured to the point where they're drastically different from the originals. Even some devoted Jill fans might have trouble recognizing some tunes unless they have a track listing handy.
Among the individual tracks, among the better ones is the Ca$e Boogie mix of "Can't Explain," a song from Jill's second studio album. The remix transforms the original from a spoken-word Soul poem into a Donna Summer/Diana Ross-style disco queen anthem. Also worthy of mention are the Mr. Mig mix of "Whatever," which was also on her second studio album, Beautifully Human; and a luscious dance version of "Come See Me," the original of which is on her The Real Thing album.
The second and third volumes of this project are due out later this summer, and if they're as good as the first, then all three volumes of Crates: Remix Fundamentals should definitely be worth hearing.
But despite the seemingly odd mash-up of styles, Crates Vol. 1 not only works, but for the most part, works quite well. The powers-that-be behind this project were smart enough to stay away from Jill's bigger and better-known songs on the album's first half, although two, "A Long Walk" and "Golden" appear in remix form toward the album's end. But they, like the other nine songs here, have been reconfigured to the point where they're drastically different from the originals. Even some devoted Jill fans might have trouble recognizing some tunes unless they have a track listing handy.
Among the individual tracks, among the better ones is the Ca$e Boogie mix of "Can't Explain," a song from Jill's second studio album. The remix transforms the original from a spoken-word Soul poem into a Donna Summer/Diana Ross-style disco queen anthem. Also worthy of mention are the Mr. Mig mix of "Whatever," which was also on her second studio album, Beautifully Human; and a luscious dance version of "Come See Me," the original of which is on her The Real Thing album.
The second and third volumes of this project are due out later this summer, and if they're as good as the first, then all three volumes of Crates: Remix Fundamentals should definitely be worth hearing.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the record label. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.