User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 61
  2. Negative: 4 out of 61

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  1. Aug 16, 2021
    10
    Great album! Some songs reminds me a OST from The Matrix... ok I just checked him on wiki, no surprise that I it remind me The Matrix.
  2. Dec 27, 2016
    6
    Rob Dougan mélange étrangement musique classique et variété, ce qui consiste à combiner sur quelque rythme syncopé un certain nombre de cordes et une basse électro. La même recette est appliquée tout au long de l'album, accompagnée de sa voix éraillée de vieux crooner, laquelle si elle vous soûle est absente de certains morceaux reproposés en pure version instrumentale.

    Il faut dire que
    Rob Dougan mélange étrangement musique classique et variété, ce qui consiste à combiner sur quelque rythme syncopé un certain nombre de cordes et une basse électro. La même recette est appliquée tout au long de l'album, accompagnée de sa voix éraillée de vieux crooner, laquelle si elle vous soûle est absente de certains morceaux reproposés en pure version instrumentale.

    Il faut dire que son accent et son marmonnement du pays des kangourous doit faire le même effet aux Anglais que les habitants des caribous pour nous. D'autres morceaux comme le célèbre Clubbed To Death (entendu dans le premier Matrix) sont dès le départ purement instrumentaux. Si ce n'est pas la trouvaille du siècle, cet album se laisse néanmoins écouter, son originalité et une certaine recherche dans ses arrangements ne sont pas déplaisantes à dire vrai.
    Expand
  3. Apr 22, 2014
    10
    We have all heard a tune off this great album,whether it be a tv show, advert, or film.
    If you love music I can't recommend this album high enough.

    Rob Dougan is a talented man, a hugely underrated album.
    To echo Kerub88 new album please.
  4. Apr 21, 2014
    10
    One of the most underrated music I know. It has a powerful atmosphere which based on Rob's amazing vocal and tunes.
    I really hope, one day he will release a new album.
  5. MaxP
    Apr 21, 2007
    8
    A vey strong few tracks on this album, but the mood is definitely dropped as the album progresses, and the closing song (Clubbed to Death II) brings back the opening mood poorly in comparison with the Coda. Still srtong nonetheless, with excellent chordal and counterpoint writing.
  6. TimK
    Mar 11, 2007
    10
    An amazing mix of styles blended perfectly
  7. JasonB
    Mar 5, 2007
    10
    Greatest album ever written. Can't wait for his second album due in 07
  8. MelanieS
    Jan 10, 2007
    10
    The only CD I've bought in the last 5 years.
  9. AntonioR
    Jan 1, 2007
    10
    Very original & intense. A well-rounded album, never boring
  10. JerryP
    Apr 6, 2006
    10
    Adictive and inspired. Artists don't put in this much effort often... treasure it.
  11. TonyJ
    Jan 29, 2005
    9
    Good Cd's, include extra multimedia. One of the best beats of all time, Clubbed to Death.
  12. TravisS
    Jan 4, 2005
    10
    great album, i always loved this dudes music
  13. FritztheCat
    Aug 31, 2004
    10
    wow...i heard of rob from the matrix soundtrack(and reloaded)saw the cd in virgin for 10 squid with a free instrumentals disc(also excellant)and the videos for furious angels and clubbed to death on it and just thought "cool".so i bought it and got blown away by his mind bending mix of classic orchestra sounds,thumping electronic beats and growled,rage encrusted tom waits style wow...i heard of rob from the matrix soundtrack(and reloaded)saw the cd in virgin for 10 squid with a free instrumentals disc(also excellant)and the videos for furious angels and clubbed to death on it and just thought "cool".so i bought it and got blown away by his mind bending mix of classic orchestra sounds,thumping electronic beats and growled,rage encrusted tom waits style vocals.Clubbed to death,furious angels and nothing at all are particular faves but the rest of the album is just as brilliant.Shove it,urb,playlouder and filter,you obviously have some sort of problem with originality. Expand
  14. MartheT
    Jun 30, 2004
    10
    100% geweldig!
  15. ManuelG
    Mar 18, 2004
    10
    One of the best made albums...ever! A great combination of meaningful lyrics, fat beats and juicy orchestral music. Recommended!
  16. JohnZ
    Dec 18, 2003
    9
    Darkness, fierceness, energy, menace. An inspired effort...
  17. DJFluke
    Dec 8, 2003
    10
    best...album...ever!
  18. JegorMeister
    Nov 8, 2003
    10
    best of the best!!!
  19. JegorMeister
    Nov 8, 2003
    10
    best of the best!!!
  20. AndrewC
    Nov 5, 2003
    10
    I have been waiting years for a album like this. Fantasic beats and orchestral music.
  21. yungd
    Oct 27, 2003
    10
    Long live originality...
  22. TomS
    Oct 24, 2003
    10
    Fundamental to the new concept as a whole work... new in its emotional strength, its melodic and harmonic freshness was the choice of instruments. With strings, flute, cello and all the other pieces that make up a 122-piece orchestra, Dougan blends orchestral color with vigor and assurance. Supporting an interweaving of real instruments is the ensemble sound. Few tracks today have that Fundamental to the new concept as a whole work... new in its emotional strength, its melodic and harmonic freshness was the choice of instruments. With strings, flute, cello and all the other pieces that make up a 122-piece orchestra, Dougan blends orchestral color with vigor and assurance. Supporting an interweaving of real instruments is the ensemble sound. Few tracks today have that smoldering intoxication and in the soaring string lines. With its cinematic timbres and down to earth essence, one can?t help but imagine how he obtained that smooth chilling sound. Both the backing beats and orchestral arrangements help produce the exciting tension and climax that characterize the work as a whole. Rob Dougan is a mastery of an extremely rhythmic-melodic technique that isn?t necessarily based on classical training. Maybe it?s the phrases when he sings. It might be the warmth and tenderness in his voice as he expresses. He motivates your mind with old movies and destroys you with his explanation of how. Whatever the reason, whatever the mood, "Furious Angles" is going to reach you... as the songs communicate with the very depths of your soul. You?ll find as I did, all things you think you?ve felt before are again brand spanking new. While this gives flavor to his style, he never allows it to dominate. Rob is perhaps the most melodic composer on the scene today and certainly one of the most intense. The listener cant help but be fascinated as he reaches out with mental dimensions and boxes of future distinctions. The male version of Billie Holiday... gritty, real and blatantly direct, Dougan demonstrates this point with such eloquence. Expand
  23. johnp
    Oct 23, 2003
    10
    Easily 10 marks for this CD. Id never heard of this musician before I got the Matrix out on DVD, now his music sits proud next to my collection of Bowie classics. You'll never hear music like this again in a good while. The song 'Clubbed to Death' is as good as it was back in 1995 and is one of the songs you just know, without knowing you know that you know. Surprisingly Easily 10 marks for this CD. Id never heard of this musician before I got the Matrix out on DVD, now his music sits proud next to my collection of Bowie classics. You'll never hear music like this again in a good while. The song 'Clubbed to Death' is as good as it was back in 1995 and is one of the songs you just know, without knowing you know that you know. Surprisingly there is not a song that fails to match it on sheer quality and emotion. The gripping 'Left me For Dead' with Dougans gritty vocals left me in awe and 'Will you follow me?' is incredibly uplifting. If this album was a movie, 5 stars, but as a CD, 10 Stars. Expand
  24. kevinp
    Oct 23, 2003
    10
    awesome!
  25. BrettE
    Oct 20, 2003
    9
    A classic!
  26. MichaelM.
    Oct 17, 2003
    10
    Vunderbar. This is a great, soulful cd replete with a unique techo-bluesy sound. I wish I had discovered it sooner.
  27. SeanM
    Aug 7, 2003
    10
    The melodies are an eclectic mix that defies category, genre or type warranting its very own new section in the aisles of music stores. The vocals are gravelly, rough and raw renderings of a gut wrenching personal journey that deep down strikes an all too familiar chord with every jilted lover. The lyrics are the real treasure especially on the tracks 'Left Me For Dead' and The melodies are an eclectic mix that defies category, genre or type warranting its very own new section in the aisles of music stores. The vocals are gravelly, rough and raw renderings of a gut wrenching personal journey that deep down strikes an all too familiar chord with every jilted lover. The lyrics are the real treasure especially on the tracks 'Left Me For Dead' and 'Drinking Song'. Both masterful poetic portrayals of a love gone bad, a heart torn in two and a tortured soul. The album, in one word, remarkable. I can't wait for his second album. Expand
  28. Olga
    Aug 1, 2003
    10
    Very impressive
  29. NP.GREYMAN
    Jul 20, 2003
    10
    A unique collection of songs that defy categorization - absolutely a must have album!
  30. michaelm
    Jun 25, 2003
    10
    Blown away! Thats the only expression I can find(Im sure theres more!) to describe how much of an impact I had when I first heard it. Ive got a good comprehensive list of CDs Ive bought like classic Morricone, Pink Floyd at their peak and some brilliant Jean-Michel Jarre and this CD is comparable. Everyone knows the stunning 'Clubbed To Death', used on ads like Caffreys and Blown away! Thats the only expression I can find(Im sure theres more!) to describe how much of an impact I had when I first heard it. Ive got a good comprehensive list of CDs Ive bought like classic Morricone, Pink Floyd at their peak and some brilliant Jean-Michel Jarre and this CD is comparable. Everyone knows the stunning 'Clubbed To Death', used on ads like Caffreys and Nissan with its epic string arrangement and beats this is by far one of the highlights of the CD. But wait theres' more. Some other anthemic ones to look out for are 'Born Yesterday', 'Furious Angels', 'Clubbed To Death 2' and 'Im Not Driving Anymore'. This CD can have you crying on the floor for forgiveness or be very uplifting indeed. There's Only Me is a clear example of this combination of stunning strings and anger-fuelled vocals. Rob has worked with Moby, Sting, U2 and Kylie in the past, and with that list of musicians, its no wonder he was destined for great things. Get this album and you'll know music has stepped up a gear that it sorely needed too. The new one with Instrumentals is out now in the US and out in the UK on 7th July. Expand
  31. Jerry
    Jun 22, 2003
    9
    The Playlouder review is a capitulation. Nothing more than an infant stamping on a rubic's cube when faced with an inability to comprehend. While this album clearly uses elements of electronica, the vocals and inspiration seem to hark back to albums such as Lou Reed's Transformer, or something by Leonard Cohen with a touch of Tom Waits and the self-conscious histrionics of The Playlouder review is a capitulation. Nothing more than an infant stamping on a rubic's cube when faced with an inability to comprehend. While this album clearly uses elements of electronica, the vocals and inspiration seem to hark back to albums such as Lou Reed's Transformer, or something by Leonard Cohen with a touch of Tom Waits and the self-conscious histrionics of Bowie! Once you add the filmic orchestrations and cut-up beats to the mix you end up with something quite groundbreaking, but a red rag to any NME wannabe. I caught "Furious Angels" and Dougan's score to the Chateau fight scene in the Matrix : Reloaded and checked this out. This album is like a score to a much finer movie. Expand
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 5
  2. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. Q Magazine
    80
    Thankfully... this reissue comes with a bonus instrumental disc, allowing the orchestral menace to speak for itself. [Oct 2003, p.127]
  2. There are no great ideas, or stunning movements, just ego-driven mush set to chocolate box arrangements. Oh, and a tendency towards the kind of vocals that Pink Floyd or Chris Rea might have been proud of.
  3. Uncut
    80
    The greatest album ZTT never released. [Oct 2003, p.134]