The Album (Mantronix album)
| The Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Studio | New York City, New York | |||
| Genre | Electro, hip-hop | |||
| Length | 35:53 | |||
| Label | Sleeping Bag[1] | |||
| Producer | Mantronik, MC Tee | |||
| Mantronix chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative Cover | ||||
| File:Mantronixthealbum2.jpg British Bonus Tracks Version | ||||
| Alternative Cover | ||||
 2008 Expanded Edition | ||||
The Album is the debut album by the group Mantronix.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  [2] |
| Mojo |  [3] |
| Pitchfork Media | 8.1/10[4] |
| Rhapsody | (Positive)[5] |
| sputnikmusic | [6] |
| Top Ten Reviews | [7] |
From contemporary reviews, J. D. Considine gave the album a three star rating, noting its sound was "pretty run-of-themill for hip-hop" with its "vintage elctronic percussion" and M.C. Tee's "standard-issue raps."[8] Considine specifically noted that Mantronix "definitely has a way with the music. They assemble their jams with funky finesse, revving up the marhciner behind "Bassline" until the rap evaporates into pure rhythm" and that "Mega-Mix" was "about as CONCRETE as this music gets."[8] "The Album"'s track "Bassline" was praised by Ken Tucker who called it the most well-known cut as "a slinky dance-music compsotion that employs rap-music cadences to achieve a choppy frenetic effect" while stating the rest of the album "Isn't as innovative" with the exception of "Mega-Mix" which was "almost abstract collage of sound effects, comes close."[9]
The NME placed the album at number 10 on its year-end list of best albums of 1986.[10]
Track listing
- "Bassline" (Kurtis Mantronik, MC Tee) – 5:26
- "Needle to the Groove" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 3:41
- "Mega-Mix" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 5:35
- "Hardcore Hip-Hop" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 6:18
- "Ladies" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 6:55
- "Get Stupid "Fresh" Part I" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 3:52
- "Fresh Is the Word" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 5:31
Bonus tracks
In February 2006, Virgin/EMI re-released the album in the UK with five bonus tracks and new cover art.
- "Ladies (Revived)"
- "Bassline (Stretched)"
- "Hardcore Hip Hop (NME Mix)"
- "Ladies (Dub)"
- "Ladies (Instrumental)"
Double-CD deluxe edition bonus tracks
On February 12, 2008, Traffic Entertainment Group released a double-CD edition of the album, titled simply Mantronix, with an extra disc and new cover art. The extra tracks are as follows:
- Bassline (Club Version)
- Needle to the Groove (12" Version)
- Fresh is the Word (12" Version)
- Ladies (UK Remix)
- Bassline (Radio Version)
- Bassline (12" Version)
- Needle to the Groove (Alternate Version)
- Jamming on the Groove
- Needle to the Groove (Live)
- Ladies (Live)
- Ladies (A Capella)
- Get Stupid "Fresh" Part 1 (A Capella)
- Fresh is the Word (Radio Version)
- Fresh is the Beat
- Fresh is the Word (A Capella)
Chart positions
Billboard Music Charts (North America) - album
| Year | Chart | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | #47 |
Billboard (North America) - singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Chart position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Fresh Is the Word" | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #16 |
| 1985 | "Needle to the Groove" | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #23 |
References
- ^ Chin, Brian (1 Feb 1986). "dance trax". Billboard. 98 (5). ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ Allmusic website review
- ^ Mojo magazine review, p.119
- ^ Pitchfork Media review Archived 2008-04-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rhapsody review
- ^ sputnikmusic review
- ^ Top Ten review
- ^ a b Considine.
- ^ Tucker.
- ^ "Albums and tracks of the Year 1986". NME. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
Sources
- Considine, J. D. (September 6, 1986). "Joel's Bridge Doesn't Cross River". The Salinas Californian. p. 30. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- Tucker, Ken (July 11, 1986). "'Legal Eagles' Theme Song is Weakest from Strong, new Rod Stewart Album". Spokane Chronicle. p. 40. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
