Album Review: Best Of CD by Various – A Genre-Hopping Joyride Through Cities That Sound Better Than They Look
Alright, let’s cut to the chase. Best Of CD by Various (because who needs a single artist when you’ve got cities?) is one of those albums that feels like someone threw a bunch of genres into a blender and hit "liquefy." Funk? Check. Soul? Yep. Pop, electronic, indie vibes, downtempo beats—you name it, this thing's got it. It’s like Germany decided to flex its musical muscles and Mini International was all, “Hold my beer.”
Now, here’s the kicker: every track is named after a city. Reykjavik? Beirut? Zurich? Sounds more like a travel itinerary than an album lineup. But hey, if you’re gonna make music inspired by places, why not pick ones with killer names? No offense, Des Moines.
Let me zoom in on two tracks that stuck with me because they didn’t just sit there looking pretty—they made me feel stuff.
First up: Berlin. Oh man, Berlin slaps. Like, hard. It’s got this electro-downtempo groove that feels like walking through a neon-lit alley at 3 AM while pondering life choices. The beat builds slowly, teasing you, until BAM—it drops and suddenly you're vibing so hard your cat gives you side-eye. I swear, listening to Berlin felt like being handed a moody European film soundtrack without having to sit through subtitles. Big win.
Then there’s Mexico City, which is basically the polar opposite of Berlin but equally unforgettable. This one leans into indie pop territory with these lush, almost tropical layers. It’s upbeat enough to make you wanna salsa in your kitchen, but chill enough to keep things classy. Imagine sipping margaritas on a rooftop as fireworks explode somewhere far off. Yeah, it’s that kind of vibe. If Mexico City were a person, it’d be the cool cousin who shows up uninvited to family gatherings but leaves everyone loving them anyway.
So yeah, Best Of CD isn’t perfect. Some tracks blend together like lukewarm coffee, and others are so experimental they might leave you scratching your head. But honestly? That’s part of its charm. It’s less about perfection and more about taking risks—and damn, does it take ’em.
Here’s the weird thing though: halfway through writing this review, I realized something. These songs aren’t just about cities; they’re about how we romanticize places we’ve never even been to. Listening to Beirut or Casablanca doesn’t transport me to those actual locations—it transports me to some dream version of them, where everything smells like fresh bread and people break into interpretive dance at random intervals. And maybe that’s okay. Maybe music doesn’t need to mimic reality—it just needs to make us believe in something better.
Final verdict? Best Of CD is like a mixtape from a friend who has really eclectic taste. You won’t love every track, but you’ll walk away thinking, “Huh. That was… interesting.” And sometimes, interesting is exactly what you need.
P.S. Still waiting for Des Moines to get its moment in the spotlight.
