Hey guys. 

Last Saturday, I got my hands on a promo copy of Tiesto's new "Kaleidoscope" album and listened to the whole thing today while driving to and from a potential love interest's house in Ft. Lauderdale.  I will tell you the grade I gave each song as well as my thoughts.

The grades represents points that will help in calculating the overall grade of this album.  So A = 4 points, B is equal to 3 and so on. 

So let's get started.

1. Kaleidoscope (ft. Jonsi of Sigur Ros) 
Nice song for an intro to the album.  I wish he used a different drumkit for it though, then it would be on par with the intro track “Ten Seconds Before Sunrise” from his previous album.  B
2. Escape Me (Ft. CC Sheffield)
This track is ok but nothing that stands out.  Starting here he seems to copy other DJs styles.  This one seems like DJ Antoine meets Gabriel & Dresden.  C
3. You Are My Diamond (Ft. Kianna)
Like the vocals but the song itself seems as if he is trying to make a part 2 of Armin Van Buuren’s “GOING WRONG”.  C
4. I Will Be Here (ft. Sneaky Sound System)
Here is the first single off of this album.  This song is more electro than trance and the vocals do not do it much justice.  Not something I would spin, although I prefer the Wolfgang Gartner Remix for when I drive.  D
5. I Am Strong (ft. Priscilla Ahn)
Here is one of the Few Songs I really liked out of the bunch.  Even though it sounds a bit like Andy Duguid, he returns to his classic “In Search of Sunrise” flavor here.  I would be curious to see what remixes would be spawned out of this song should it be released as a single. A
6. Here On Earth (ft. Cary Brothers)
Tiesto teams with Cary Brothers of whom he remixed Ride for his last ISOS DJ mix.  The song is ok but a little Deadmau5ish.  C
7. Always Near
Serves as an outro to the previous song.  Not Applicable.
8. It’s Not The Things You Say (ft. Kele Okereke)
Tiesto continues our album journey with a song that is somewhat Breakbeat.  I like the vocals, but I wonder if he could make a trance version of the song….?  C
9. Fresh Fruit
Tiesto’s first proper instrumental song.  This is another one of the few favorites I like.  I would use this in the warmup part of one of my sets.  A
10. Century (ft. Calvin Harris)
Tiesto recently remixed Calvin Harris’ “I’m Not Alone” and now Calvin returns the favor by lending vocals to this song.  He appears to copy Ferry Corsten’s style a bit here.  I like it, but with some tweeking, this could be usable in a DJ mix.  B
11. Feel it in My Bones (ft. Tegan & Sara)
This song is good for a drive but not for a trance set.  He appears to copy Gabriel & Dresden’s style again.  The lyrics are ok, but nothing special.  C
12. Who Wants To Be Alone (Ft. Nelly Furtado)
Finally, A track I totally dislike!  This is a far from trance as you can get with this album.  It sounds like something Lady Gaga would do.  F
13. LA Ride
Tiesto makes up for the garbage Nelly Furtado with this song.  Perfect for a joyride (As the name suggests).  It should be in one of those “Need For Speed” games.  A
14. Bend It Like You Don’t Care
I kind of judged a book by its cover here.  I thought this track was going to be extremely cheesy because of the title, but the song though isn’t really that bad.  With some tweeking, this could be club-friendly. B
15. Knock You Out (Ft. Emily Haines)
This song is somewhat cheesy.  It’s not as bad as “Who Wants To Be Alone” but he could do a LOT better than this.  D
16. Louder Than Boom
This song was released as an unofficial single on Beatport.  He kind of copies Ferry Corsten’s style here.  I would use it in a set but not a concept one like Tiesto’s “In Search Of Sunrise” or my “Deep Freeze” B
17. Surrounded by Light
Outro Song.  Not Applicable.

Overall this album is ok but not something to get too excited about.  I would be more eager to grab one of his last three albums if I hadn’t already obtained them.

Album Grade Point Average
Total Points: 36
Divided by
Number of Songs I graded: 15

Grade Point Average: 2.4   Album overall grade:  C

I've heard relatively good things about this Fresh Fruit track. I wasn't too impressed with a lot of the other songs I've heard, though I think I may have to seek this track one out at least if I can. I noticed you didn't give a grade for Louder than Boom. Was that intentional? Anyways, interesting review Randy. Thanks for sharing.

OH Snap I meant to give it a B.

Must've happened when I copied it from Word.  Thanks for catching that Kevin!

Ive heard two really recent livesets, and for the most party they are banging, but if you were looking for the over the top "trance" sound your not going to get that.

this is way more eclectic, very dancy and I can see myself loving this live.

"not applicable" on the last track?

is it quite literally an outro track that's like 10 seconds long?

Cool review, Randy. Gonna check out your Grade B's and A's.

Originally posted by N7pSTR

Im not accord. You're Putting bad marks to all songs that are not trancy.

Kaleidoscope veery better than 10 seconds before sunrise. And Feel It In My Bones is by far better than I am strong. But yeah, they are not trance.

And what about Here on Earth? Yo dont like it because it's progressive?

Please man, you are not evaluating music, just measuring if the tracks are trance or not!

thats a valid review for a trance junky

Kaleidoscope better than 10 second?! This is TRANCE-Podium, not MAINSTREAM-Podium

Originally posted by PsychoKilla666

thats a valid review for a trance junky

Kaleidoscope better than 10 second?! This is TRANCE-Podium, not MAINSTREAM-Podium

I agree with this 100%

I dont really agree with the way you reviewed this album
I'm not saying that this is such an amazing album and everything, its just a very different one
I just dont get the comparisons that you make, i dont see any of them, like the Ferry or G&D
And i dont see why you reviewed it as if it were a trance album, cuz its not like he came out and said this will be a trance album
All in all, it always comes out to everyones different taste in music, which we are ALL allowed to have and as the title of this thread shows, it is YOUR review
iono, just my 2 cents...

Originally posted by N7pSTR

AND YES: Kaleidscope ONWS (several times) to 10 Seconds!

Blasphemer!!! 

After a few listens the ones I mainly like are "Fresh Fruit" (With a remix could be amazing) "Feel it in my bones" and Kaleidoscope, its a grower thats for sure.

Originally posted by N7pSTR

BTW, Shadowman, you are talking about Mainstream?

Hey, MR. Oakefold plays for Madonna you know?

You must to listen his NEW BRAND SONG with Madonna: Celebration!

Very "cool" song man, nice evolution for MR. Oakenfold.

Oh come on...

AND YES: Kaleidscope ONWS (several times) to 10 Seconds!

An massive LOL. First of all, i put it as avatar not because i am huge Oakenfold fan. I barely listened to any of his tracks. That cover art is one of stupidest covers i ever seen, it cracked me up, which is why i put it as avatar. I never said i am an fan of his, yet you choose to attack my avatar. Very mature way to have an discussion  :/ But secondly,  if you insist of talking that way, i will repeat what Psychokilla666 said. This is trance podium, not indie rock podium. Which is why i don't care for Sigur Ros or Tegan and Sara or who they are. I am not here to listen to indie rock. And i don't want to listen to that from an trance artist. Which is why i think this album sucks. And thirdly, this is my personal opinion. I never forced it on anyone. You can listen it ten times a day if you want, i don't care. All i did was agreeing with another poster, yet you dedicated an entire post into just ripping into me and ridiculing me for avatar choice. If that's not an fanboyism, then i don't know what is. And if Tiesto turned away from old time trance fans like me to appeal to indie rock scene, then i am proud to say that i am not Tiesto's fan anymore.

Originally posted by PsychoKilla666

thats a valid review for a trance junky

Kaleidoscope better than 10 second?! This is TRANCE-Podium, not MAINSTREAM-Podium

And Kaleidoscope is mainstream?!