In Britain, bookmakers will take almost any bet. Last year a new father got 25,000 to 1 odds that his baby boy would one day score a goal in the World Cup. But if he had walked into Ladbroke's in 1988 and asked for odds against someone from The Housemartins becoming the world's most sought-after party DJ, he'd have been laughed out of the place. They don't set odds that high.
The first five songs of Better Living Through Chemistry are Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim)'s great triumph over the odds. That the bassist from the world's least funky band could rip off five tunes this wildly, irrepressibly hedonistic is a near miracle. "Song For Lindy" is a hammering hip-house beast; "The Weekend Starts Here" is the most appropriately-titled song ever. The other three - "Santa Cruz," "Going Out of My Head" and "Everybody Needs a 303" - are just stone cold classics. They were among the first songs this side of the Chemical Brothers worthy of the overused "Big Beat" tag, and if you don't already know them, you need to get out more.
And after that? After that, who cares? The rest is "only" the most slamming instrumental acid breakbeat-fiesta since…the first five tracks. Funky, rockin', ready to drink your girlfriend and dance with your beer. Don't bet against it.
If you like Fatboy Slim, check out:
The Chemical Brothers Exit Planet Dust
Bentley Rhythm Ace Bentley Rhythm Ace
Fatboy Slim You've Come A Long Way, Baby
psst...you might wanna check out our trip hop habitat for more features on (guess what) trip hop artists.
