Controversial Single to Be Lifted off of Prodigy's 2002 Full Length. Features Three Mixes.
CD Reviews
Pretty Good Single
Peter | Earth | 08/25/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is Prodigy's first release of new music since 1997's Fat of the Land (they released a DJ mix album, Dirtchamber Sessions Volume 1, in 1999, which is good.)
Baby's Got a Temper has a slow, drugged-out kind of beat. Not slow in a dragging or boring way, just drugged-out. The whole song sounds pretty trippy.
The track has lots of little sounds and quirky noises, which sound pretty cool. Keith is doing the vocal delivery, and does pretty well. There's a little electronic loop that sounds like a scary nursery rhyme.
This song mainly just lacks the force and driving energy that a lot of Prodigy songs are known for. However, that is not to say it's bad. It's just different.
It's not really one of my favorite Prodigy songs, but I was really happy it came out, and I look forward to their new album, currently titled Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.p.s. - Liam Howlett, the main man of the Prodigy, has himself stated that Baby's Got a Temper sounds more like something off of the Fat of the Land album. This song is not necessarily attempting to break new ground. He also admitted, more recently, that the release of the single was due to the record company. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though.
I've heard some of the material from the new album, and it sounds pretty good. Also, Liam has stated that Baby's Got a Temper may not even be on the new album. And, according to Liam, at least another single is planned to be released before the album is."
The legend resurfaces
Nicholas Petersen | Mankato, MN United States | 08/26/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Before I say anything about the music, I have to credit Prodigy for having the balls to have their newest release in 5 years be a single with non-stop drug references and an a capella mix so we can clearly hear every word.Ok, on to the music. Baby's Got A Temper is a VERY easy to digest track; down tempo, distorted guitar tracks, cathcy hook, etc. Personally I was looking forward to a much more uptempo track but I have a feeling this is not going to be the best of Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned. At the same time, I think BGAT has the right stuff to re-introduce the band into the current music scene and even win new fans.The Dub Mix was kind of dissappointing really, not different or (bassy) enough in my opinion. It's not a bad track, but it doesn't live up to the standard of older Prodigy dub mixes.I do GREATLY appreciate the inclusion of the instumental version of the track. I always enjoy being able to really listen to every nuance of the song minus vocals.The A Capella mix is interesting in the way that you can really hear all of the production of the vocals that get lost in the complete track.Overall, if you're a fan, you probably already have it so there's not much more to say. If you're new to the group, don't hesitate to pick this disc up and discover some great new music."
Liam and Co. are back, and just in time...
James Krieger | White Plains, NY United States | 07/25/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Liam and Company are back and just in time. This single from "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned" is an explosive calling card. Fans of the last records hits will not be disappointed. Starting off with somewhat demented carnival-esque keyboard loop the song launches into a full on assault o of Keith Flint's trademark English snarl, Howlett's beats
and very cool Girls Against Boys style distorted guitar.
This is the only eletronic band that can rock just as hard
as any rock band out there, any witness to The Prodigy live
will tell you that. Welcom back boys, just in time."
Baby's got a temper
jim | tuesday | 07/15/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Although I reckon this is a pretty similar track to Firestarter I like it none the less. It's creepy lyrics and violent threatening tempo are pretty good, and I guess when it's on the dancefloor, pretty ironic.Check out the video with the cattle milling around; you don't have to hear the Ropyhnol lyrics to understand this one. Although somehow it's never been contraversial in the sense that the slightly mis-aligned smack my Bitch up was.It get's the party going so you can forget it all and enjoy the rest... ;)"
Prodigy gets back on track
useless idiot | Santa Barbara, Ca USA | 11/06/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Prodigy's first single in 5 years is certainly nothing ground-breaking, but it's still good and certainly indicates some growth in the group's sound, as opposed to some people who say it sounds like a half-baked Fat of the Land song.
True, it does have plenty of familiar FOTL-style ingredients: Keith Flint's crazed shouting, guitar usage, and relentlessly fast tempo. However, the differences can be found in the details, or rather, the way these elements are used. The lyrics are a dramatic improvement over anything from FOTL, which had nothing but a few lines in each song that got repeated ad nauseum. Here, there are more and more varied lyrics, which helps the song tremendously, in that it does not get old as quickly. Deep and meaningful they still aren't, but the effort's there, and it's well appreciated. Similarly, the guitar work is slightly more varied and more effective, giving the song a great punk-rock flavor.
The song also seems to indicate that Liam Howlett is trying to ditch techno elements as much as he can in favor of becoming an electronics-based rock group. Except for the keyboard pattern used throughout the song and the drum machines giving the song its rhythm, there are no techno sounds or elements in sight. By contrast, Firestarter contained several detours into techno effects and atmospherics that balanced out the rock stylings. Though the song still sounds good without these effects, it's somewhat worrisome to think of them being gone for a whole album, as they help to give FOTL's rock tracks their edge.
The only flaw with this single is that it contains no good b-sides or remixes, just cut-up versions of BGAT(instrumentals, vocals), which are pretty boring and don't add anything. Aside from that, Baby's Got a Temper is a decent comeback and drops some good hints about their upcoming album's direction."
Track Listings (2) - Disc #1