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01. Ten Seconds Before Sunrise
So the guy wanted to start off his album the same way he did on 'Just Be' with 'Forever Today'. It had a 2 mins long orchestral piece just before the trance part of the track started. This time, Tiesto's album began with a chillout-like intro that puts you in the mood to listen to some hardcore-ass-kicking-trance. And I wasn't satisfied with what I heard afterwards. At around 1:30, the trancy part of the track starts. Hmm the build-up reminds me of 'A Tear in the Open'. I don't know if its just me but, I hear some double-beating, I hope this was done on purpose, but I really dont feel it... The rest of the track has a proggy-feel and doesn't have much to offer to be honest.
5/10
02. Everything (feat. Jes)
Hmm what can I say about this one. It sounds like an unfinished piece. The vocals by Jes are superb but the instrumental part of the track sounds the same from the start until 5:30-ish, which is almost the conclusion of the track. Anyways, I don't have much to say about it, I love Jes' voice but this definitively needs... a Solarstone Club Mix. It will sound alot like 'Like a Waterfall'.
7/10
03. Do You Feel me (feat. Julie Thompson)
First impressions. Housey vocals. And same feeling as 'Everything', the track doesn't sound as if it was completed. Weak beats too... Oh and there's this sound that appears at 2:30-ish, sounds UFO-ish, pretty cool actually. lol reminds me of X-Files. anyways random thought. Another great vocal track ruined by the instrumental part.
6/10
04. Carpe Noctrum
I'm starting to wonder why I'm writing a review for this album. Same comment as above; there's something missing, this song has no fucking soul. Reminds me of 'Traffic'. SANDER VAN DOORN HAS TO REMIX THIS AND TURN IT INTO A ASOT HIT. blah.
6/10
05. Driving to Heaven
I started liking this song after 2-3 listenings. It's different. I absolutely love the guitar-ish sound. It has Junkie XL's style in it. Very ear-friendly and easily listenable. I wish this song would last longer than 4:42 mins.
8/10
06. Sweet Things (feat. Charlotte Martin)
Another vocal trancer. This vocalist is new to me and I'm really liking her voice and what she is singing. EXCEPT at this point where she says "sweeeeeeet things"; I hate it when vocalists tend to do fake orgasm while singing, reminds me of what Kirsty Hawkshaw has been doing in 'Just Be'. Oh and I forgot Tiesto's part in the track. Hmm... catchy riff here. I like it even though it gets repetitive. I'm sure there's a single coming for this one.
7.5/10
07. Bright Morningstar
This track is a little more techy than the rest of the album. You can hear that BT had alot of influence on (or maybe even produced it) this track. You can hear the infamous 'slutter edit'. Anyways, good album song, but I wouldn't see it on the dancefloor or air on the radio. Unless there are remixes coming.
8/10
08. Break My Fall (feat. BT)
Got this one for awhile now. But the final cut sounds different from the one I had. Oh well. One of the only vocal-tracks that doesn't have a background beat that bores the shit outta me. BT voice is just beautiful, good to hear his real voice and not a too-distorted one like in 'Somnambulist' or on a too pitched tone like in 'Love Comes Again'. Speaking of LCA, it sounds pretty much like a part 2 to me. I hope there's a single for this one.
8/10
09. In the Dark (feat. Christian Burns)
Second (or third if you count the pirate track) single off this album. Very energic beat. It has been said many times already but I am going to say it again, sounds like an Indie or Alternative track remix, because of the vocals. But unlike most tranceheads out there, I don't mind that and even though it doesn't follow the whole definition of trance, this song is catchy and pleasant to listen to. It's a radio bait.
7/10
10. Dance4Life (feat. Maxi Jazz)
I don't even wanna bother reviewing this track.
2/10
11. Elements of Life
Title song, this is for sure going to be one of the future singles. The melody's got some potential but like every other songs of this album but its missing something. Needs a huge-ass Ron Van Den Beuken Remix to boost it up. After the breakdown, its too... omg.... Adagio for Strings-ish. And one more comment about it, nelsoncrj just reminded me,... that bassline sounds too much like Deepforces, that Hands Up producer.
6.5/10
12. He's a Pirate (Tiesto Remix) (by Klaus Badelt)
Okay yes, Tiesto remixing the PotC theme was a really bad idea. But I have a different opinion about it. Even though it's simple and cheesy for most tranceheads, I'm liking this tune, yes I said it, I like it.
8/10
To conclude. I repeated myself many times for each tracks, I'm aware of that. I mentionned many times older Tiesto tracks from the 'Just Be' CD. So I can say that this album sounds too much like Tiesto's 2nd artist album. Also, I think that Tiesto has to work a little more on his vocal productions; the lyrics are well written most of the time but there's always a lack of complexity when it comes to the instrumental part of the song. He has to consider it as much as the vocal part, music isn't only about vocals, it's about harmonizing every elements. I'm sure he knows that. In a way, as Tiesto announced himself, 'Elements of Life' has alot of styles mixed together. But in another way, every track sounds like others.
Overall I give 'Elements of Life' a disappointing 6/10.
I expected alot from this but I guess I shouldn't had.
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i preferred the version without the orchestral stuff in the breakdown though. it has a much quirkier, more eccentric feel to it than say, 'elements of life', which gives it loads more appeal
