Search - Bargrooves :: Cosmopolitan

Great Soundtrack for Daily Living

Donna Graves | California | 12/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm new to this whole style of music--I bought this disc because I heard it playing in a cafe, liked it, and asked the waiter what it was. I'm kind of lost with a lot of the terminology, but I guess this is "deep house". I listen mostly to jazz but I have a hard time playing it as background music--I always stop what I'm doing to listen to the music, so I never get anything done! And "smooth jazz" seems so bland and tired. The music on the Bargrooves discs is mellow but energetic, it has a nice jazzy feel (love that Fender Rhodes piano) but has dance grooves that are good enough to jump into without being overbearing. It's perfect music for just about anything--driving, cooking, entertaining--because it adds a nice energy to everything while still blending in. I'm definitely going to pick up some of the other Bargrooves collections and start exploring other deep house discs."

Good, but could be better.

M. D. Webley | Los Angeles | 09/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 2-CD set seems to follow the usual Bargooves tradition. The first disk, compiled by Ben Sowton, is a definite keeper with a really good selection of tracks. However, the second disk is, with one or two exceptions, a collection of rather mediocre tracks compiled (as usual) by a guest DJ of lesser ability.



It probably just comes down to personal taste, but I cannot help thinking that Ben Sowton would do better by simply DJ'ing both disks himself. Its nice of Ben to give others an opportunity, but in the Bargrooves series it usually detracts from the quality of the overall set.



So, worth the price and the 4-star rating for the first disk alone, but as usual the second disk is (with one or two exceptions) merely filler."

Bar grooves = Funky jazz

DRYWASHER-BILL | LAS VEGAS, NEVADA | 09/06/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you are the sort who likes hard driving techno/house/dance, perhaps you better had keep shopping because this particular compilation is more like ultra modern jazz meets MUZAK, combined with some techno. This may be your groove, and I am not knocking anybody.

But it may take a few shots before you can really appreciate the background, Bar Grooves style or City Lounge"