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Playgroup Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: Playgroup is the brainchild of producer/designer Trevor Jackson, who has remixed artists such as Massive Attack, U2, and Death In Vegas. On this eponymous debut, a variety of guests from the hip-hop and indie music worlds (Kathleen Hanna, Shinehead, Edwyn Collins, KC Flightt, Roddy Frame,Playgroup is the brainchild of producer/designer Trevor Jackson, who has remixed artists such as Massive Attack, U2, and Death In Vegas. On this eponymous debut, a variety of guests from the hip-hop and indie music worlds (Kathleen Hanna, Shinehead, Edwyn Collins, KC Flightt, Roddy Frame, Rowetta) lends vocals to the twelve eclectic tracks, including a cover of Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover." Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Alternative Press
    90
    May be Jackson's best work to date.... Playgroup is effortlessly retro, without sounding dated. [Apr 2002, p.80]
  2. 80
    His most impressive sound collage yet.
  3. Throughout, Jackson digs deep into his sources and parties all the time.
  4. Spin
    70
    When it all cooks properly, as on the sultry, sweaty "Number One," Jackson's retro pastiches generate steam heat. [May 2002, p.125]
  5. This is an album where the magic is all in the details: the exquisite interplay of different drum sounds, the textural alternation of succulent and crisp. The songs are merely serviceable.
  6. Urb
    70
    A fabulous freeform fiesta of punky reggae and funky dance-pop. [Mar 2002, p.120]
  7. By co-opting and debasing punk-disco's vitality and sincerity and thereby rendering the style accessible to the botox-and-bulimia set, Jackson betrays the visions of those whose ecstatically powerful music he lavishly degrades.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. SophieC
    Apr 3, 2005
    8
    8 purely because i love the fatboy remix of front2back. It's on the Blue Crush soundtrack and always reminds me of summer parties.
  2. [Anonymous]
    Feb 18, 2005
    8
    Wonderful,original and every track is good.
  3. MichaelS.
    Apr 11, 2002
    3
    Almost unlistenable. I am always interested in the work of Edwyn Colins but the Bass is so strong on this it punishes the ears and throws off Almost unlistenable. I am always interested in the work of Edwyn Colins but the Bass is so strong on this it punishes the ears and throws off the balance of every song. Interesting cover of Paul Simon's "50 ways to leave your lover" with Shinehead on vocals. Buy the single instead. Expand