From the Label Presenting Britney Spears: B in the mix - The Remixes–a collection of brand new remixes of some of the Grammy-winning performer’s biggest hits, some ‘classic’ remixes and as if that weren’t enough a brand new song! The new previously unreleased track, entitled “And Then We Kiss” is remixed by Junkie XL. No Britney Spears fan, no music fan and certainly no dance fan could do without this non-stop hit list of monster remixes. Celebrate the many moods and sounds of Britney Spears: B in the mix - The Remixes.

Description In the absence of a new studio album, the princess of pop follows up 2003’s ‘In The Zone’ with this collection of remixes. The eclectic selection of guest producers includes Junkie XL, Jason Nevins, Hex Hector and Jacques Lu Cont aka Stuart Price, the producer of Madonna’s ‘Confessions On A Dancefloor’ album. The album also includes the Hi-Bias remix of a new song, ‘Someday’, which was previously only available on the bonus CD included with Britney’s ‘Chaotic’ DVD.

Review 1:

Be warned - this cd will automatically install Sony’s version of copy-protection software on any windows computer. I consider this software to be a virus as it renders the system open to hacking (code is already in the wild that exploits it). Be very careful. If I had known I would never have purchased or used this disk. Amazon merely says the disk is “enhanced” - now you know what they enhanced it with.

As for the music, the Peter Rauhofer Reconstruction Mix of Toxic is worth the price of the cd. This is how a remix should be done! with an awsome pounding beat and samples carefully arranged to alter but retain the originals message, its just wonderful.

Several other tracks, especially the Me Against The Music and Touch Of My Hand are outstanding. As is usual in a compilation like this some of them are mediochre and tired-sounding rehashes but nothing is perfect.

I would have liked to see more from the recent album but overall its a good set, just don’t get it if you expect to play it in a computer or move to mp3 device, because if you do you have granted Sony the right to decide what your system will allow you to do.

1. Toxic (6:46)
2. Me against the music (4:01)
3. Touch of my hand (5:19)
4. Breath on me (3:55)
5. I’m a slave 4U (5:51)
6. And then we kiss (4:27)
7. Everytime (3:25)
8. Early morning (3:38)
9. Someday (3:46)
10. Baby one more time (4:38)
11. Don’t let me be the last to know (8:17)

Review 2:

Britney is now gone from an innocent pop princess to evil, dirty tramp to washed up has been by 24. The reason she didn’t promote this remix album, which BOMBED BIG TIME, was because her blind sheep fans didn’t want to see their washed up hero all fat, bloated and frumpy. Someday I’ll Understand is a stupid song which she wrote for her baby Sean Preston(a real redneck name) who looks like Quasimodo. The other new track is a trash-fest too. Now she is trying to get her pre-baby figure back but there is NO CHANCE IN HELL of that happening and she is now having another baby. Kiss her career goodbye.

Review 3:

I’m still not tired of this CD after to listening to it several times. The remixes are phenomenal, and I suggest “Breathe on Me” and “And When We Kiss”.

There’s four problems that irritate me.
1 - There’s no alterative CD without the software, at least a legal one that I can find.
2 - You must install the software if loading it on your computer. It slows down your computer and can be quite a hassle to uninstall. Any time you want to burn/rip the CD or put it on an MP3 player, you have to install it.
3 - Beware owners of iPods! The music won’t work on your iPods! (The software company says that Apple isn’t cooperating with them, but with this software, do your blame them? Maybe someday you can eventually get them on an iPod.)
4 - I have a very strict preference of bitrates when ripping CDs (192 kbps) because it has a decent sound quality. But you can only rip this CD at exactly 128kbps. The sounds qualitity isn’t terrible, but sometimes you can hear where it could be better. If you try to rip the CD without the software, etc., the ripped songs will skip and be distorted. (The software company said they are “working” on creating an update for the software that allows users to select their bitrate.)

The software if very inconvenient, and actually quite a hassle to use. Not the best way to keep faithful customers! If you don’t mind the software or don’t listen to your music on a computer, then go for it! Otherwise, be prepared!

Review 4:

This remix CD is awesome. It brings new life to songs that were just “eh” (especially Touch of My Hand, Early Mornin’) and rejuvenates the best. Here’s a track-by-track breakdown:

1. Toxic (Reconstruction Mix) 6/5: This is the best remix of Toxic I’ve ever heard. A pounding bass line and great synth match up to Britney’s vocals and make one of her best songs even better. You won’t find another one like this.

2. Me Against the Music 5/5: This remix gives the song a rock edge that wasn’t found on the original. It pounds its way through and everything seems to come together a bit more than the original version. Madonna’s vocals aren’t as pronounced, which is a great thing as well.

3. Touch of My Hand (Hamel Remix) 6/5: One of In the Zone’s weakest songs, Touch of My Hand strived to be something bigger than it was. But it just wasn’t catchy. This remix speeds things up and changes the song completely. Using many of the original elements, it sounds like it belongs on the original album. The vocals are mixed up a bit as well. An excellent mix.

4. Breathe on Me 4/5: This remix isn’t anything too spectacular. The other remix by the same guy was featured on the GH bonus disc, which was really LOOOOOOONG and boring. This one’s a bit faster, but isn’t much different from the original version. A good mix, but could have been much better.

5. I’m a Slave 4 U (Slavedriver Mix) 6/5: One of the other best remixes. It’s a total reworking of Slave, with a pounding bassline, great new instrumentals and slightly faster vocals. A truly great mix. At just 5 minutes, you’ll wish it was longer.

6. And Then We Kiss (Junkie XL Mix) 5/5: While the only version of the song heard, this song is actually really good. A much better one than Someday, this song plays out really well. What the original sounded like is anyone’s guess, but this one is definitely a good start.

7. Everytime (Valentin Mix) 4/5: Not one of my favorite Everytime mixes (see the better Hi-Bias mix) it just sounds harsh and it doesn’t match up to the vocals like it should. The instruments are a bit too loud and drown out her voice a bit.

8. Someday (Remix) 3/5: I’ve never cared for this song much, and the remix isn’t much better. While I believe it sounds better than the original, the faster beat just isn’t enough to make it awesome.

9. Early Mornin’ 6/5: This mix has totally changed the song. What was once annoying and always skipped has become a must-hear. The funky guitar always playing in the background really drives the song forward, making it catchy and something you can actually listen to.

10. Baby One More Time (Ospina Mix) 3/5: I’ve never found a good remix of this song, and this definitely isn’t one. It’s quite disappointing actually. I have gotten used to it but I wish that it wasn’t trying to be so funky. Just a straight remix would be better.

11. Don’t Let Me Be the Last to Know 6/5: This remix gave this song new life. While I found the original version slightly annoying and forced, this made it fun and enjoyable. It’s an 8-minute song but doesn’t feel like it. One of my favorites.

The album is great, but could have been better with the inclusion of some more remixes, such as Stronger, Oops!, Do Somethin’, Sometimes, etc. Overall it’s a great CD and you won’t be disappointed. Get it!!!

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