The Prodigy
's response to the sweeping legislation and crackdown on raves contained in 1994's Criminal Justice Bill is an effective statement of intent. Pure sonic terrorism,
Music for the Jilted Generation
employs the same rave energy that charged their debut,
Experience
, up the charts in Britain, but yokes it to a cause other than massive drug intake. Compared to their previous work, the sound is grubbier and less reliant on samples; the effect moved
the Prodigy
away from the American-influenced
rave
and
acid house
of the past and toward a uniquely British vision of breakbeat
techno
that was increasingly allied to the limey invention of
drum'n'bass
. As on
, there are so many great songs here that first-time listeners would be forgiven for thinking of a greatest-hits compilation instead of a proper studio album. After a short intro, the shattering of panes of glass on
"Break & Enter"
catapults the album ahead with a propulsive flair. Each of the four singles --
"Voodoo People,"
"Poison,"
"No Good (Start the Dance),"
"One Love"
-- are excellent, though album tracks like
"Speedway"
"Their Law"
(with help from
Pop Will Eat Itself
) don't slip up either. If
seemed like an excellent fluke,
is the album that announced
were on the charts to stay. ~ John Bush