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Radio Retaliation | 
 enlarge | Manufacturer: ESL Music, Inc.
Category: Digital Music Album
Buy New: $8.99
Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 210
Genre: dance-and-dj-music
Media: MP3 Download
Running Time: 0 Minutes
ASIN: B001FMYPEY
Release Date: September 23, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 Numero uno! January 6, 2009
J. G. Woolcock
I've been listening to these guys since their genesis. And I have to say this is their best release yet. That's saying a lot! High quality musicianship, artistic diversity, plus political consciousness equals Thievery Corporation.
Thievery Corporation Rookie January 6, 2009
Peppermint Patty (California, USA)
This is my first Thievery album. I really like it. I have been playing it straight for over a week. It's very easy listening, from 1st song to last song. The beats are great, the vocals are smooth. Thank you NPR for discussing this album on their show. I will most likely buy Mirror Conspiracy next.
Still Great December 12, 2008
Jerian (Seattle WA)
I have been a Thievery Fan for a few years now. Few other Bands can incorporate as many different instruments and styles/vocalists as they do and still come off with a great album as Radio Retaliation! If you like the more progressive underground scene and appreciate a move away from the cookie cutter pop scene where innovation and talent rule over sex appeal and glossy videos than this is for you.
The transition from House Music to World Music is Complete December 9, 2008
Rich Grace (Guerneville, CA United States)
From The Mirror Conspiracy on, Thievery Corporation is growing musically and artistically. In The Cosmic Game, and now, in Radio Retaliation, TC fulfills its ambition of being a versatile, powerful World Music band instead of just a couple guys noodling with turntables, sequencers and Ableton Live. I'd consider comparing TC to Air and Zero Seven (at least much of their earlier work), but with this disc TC steps up with the power and sonic depth to surpass anything they've ever done before, and leave all others in the genre in their shadow.
If you have a subwoofer in your vehicle, throw this disc in immediately. TC have never had so much power and propulsion in their compositions - and yes, they are compositions and not just pastiches of others' previous work - a trend that really started with Mirror Conspiracy and Richest Man in Babylon, extended in Cosmic Game, reaching its ambitious culmination here. The percussion and bass on this disc are far stronger than any other disc they've produced. (I'm telling you, a subwoofer is mandatory!)
This power manifests itself particularly in the stretch of Tracks 4-11, starting with "Vampires," which employs subtle and ringing harmonic instrumentation that is far more sophisticated than much of their earlier work. Track 6, "El Pueblo Unido," fuses muscular, driving percussion and a propulsive bass line with punchy Mexican/Latin instrumentation, conveying both a sense of place, and an irresistible urge to tap your foot (at the very least), then to journey to the sands of North Africa in Track 7, "(The Forgotten People)." These two tracks in particular show how TC has matured and expanded their sound to a true World Music level.
Including the title track and the first track on the disc, dub remains a standout influence on TC's sound. However, a big difference is that it sounds a bit less like white-boy dub and much more rooted in Caribbean influences, and is the better for it. Even more exciting is that several other distinct world influences make themselves felt on this disc for the first time, including the deep Mexican sounds of "Unido" and the North African/Berber instrumentals of "(People)."
Probably the track that looks most closely back at "The Cosmic Game" is the second one, "Mandala," which features some virtuoso sitar work and a preview of the powerful percussion work that marks most of this disc. This disc and "Cosmic Game" are dramatically different from each other. I love both equally for different reason and appreciate that TC want to change and grow their sound. I consider both discs to be their best work to date.
I also have to mention - on the final track, "Sweet Tides," that while I'm not a big fan of LouLou's work (I find her voice a little lacking in volume), this track is an example of a power ballad as only TC could do it. (And on the politics: I'm an Obama supporter, so what TC has to say completely works for me.)
It takes a few listens to start absorbing "Retaliation." As I've noted, if you're looking for another "Cosmic Game" or "Mirror" it's not going to be the same formula. TC continues to grow and probably exemplify the musical collective more effectively than anyone, including Air and Zero Seven. The music on this disc is just miles ahead of anything those two bands have ever done, and the best work TC has done yet. I could not be more delighted with this. Especially since I have a lovely subwoofer in my car. Musical and artistic growth is always good.
 lost in their sucess....... November 30, 2008
Richard A. Beckel (D.C. VIA NYC)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am a die hard TC fan and have seen them live multiple times, this album is NOT GOOD AT ALL, period. It builds off what they have learned and created in the last ten years but THEN WHAT???? Nothing. Nothing new, more dub rapping, sittar riffs and... what else? It is a lazy effort at best, as if they were partying for the last two years and then realized its time to make a new album. In addition, whats with the crappy packaging?? these guys need to fire their marketing dept because it is just the definition of a useless effort. For an album that rebels against radio airplay , they seemed to have adapted the mentality of the radio establishment, more of the same mediocrity but spend more money on the promotion of it. i hope one or both of the founding members read this because when you guys were hungry with new ideas you made Thievery something special, please dont let it die, after this album please capitalize on your beats, grooves, and flow like the old days but lose the sittar and give the the ska rappers some time off as well.
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