Almost essential? How about just "almost..."
R. Friesel Jr. | Burlington, VT USA | 12/28/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Disappointing. Then again, I think Paul Van Dyk has just about finished his run anyway. PVD has been pushing an energetic, melodic, and usually even beautiful style of progressive trance on the EDM world for some time now. Fortunately, he never compromised his artistic integrity for any particular sound. But then his sound became the popular one. This 3 disc set marks the occassion of 6 years of Paul Van Dyk as a DJ, remixer, and producer. And on that note, it does an excellent job of rounding up those singles. But that's about all it does well.*ahem*When I first heard about the set, it showed real promise and I was very excited. 6 years worth of PVD? Sounded great. Unfortunately, the concept was not as well implemented as it could have been. Ideally, we would have gotten 3 mixed CDs charting the evolution of his sound. Let's say a mixed disc of the 92-93 material, another mix of the 94-95 material, and a final mixed disc of the 96-98 material. Or something to that effect. Instead, we get a brilliantly mixed first disc that perfectly captures PVD's sound and then two more discs of "sequenced" PVD remixes that just don't seem to capture the interest very well.This set has its moments, but in retrospect, I don't know if I could really have justified the gross expenditure it took to put it on my shelf. If there's anyway you can get a copy of just the first disc, do that. Otherwise, maybe you'd better just skip it. Unless you're THAT big of a PVD fan..."
5 Stars Plus!! One of the best techno/trance albums ever!!
Gregory Kean | Southeast US | 10/28/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is so good, I cannot put it all into words! All other artist are pale in comparison to paul van dyk. I have listenen to this album so much its not even funny. I like almost every track a lot, and with this 3 cd compilation, i don't see how you couldn't love it also. Forget Paul Orkenflop, hes good, but not super dooper good like Paul Van Dyk is! All his albums kick a$$, but this one is by far the best! IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS ALBUM, BUY IT or at least hear it! Thanks! and no I don't work for Amazon or Paul Van Dyk!"
The best of paul van dyk
Rodolfo A. Ruffatti | el sal | 03/12/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"excellent, a collection of his best remixes before he went commercial, these cds are the core of trance music"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1