Fatboy Slim
's debut album,
Better Living Through Chemistry
, was one of the surprises of the
big beat
revolution of 1996 -- an eclectic blowout, all tracked to thunderous loops and masterminded by
Norman Cook
, a former member of the British
pop
band
the Housemartins
. It might not have been as startlingly fresh as
the Chemical Brothers
, but the hard-hitting beats and catchiness, not to mention consistency, of
Better Living
was a shock, and it raised expectations for
's second album,
You've Come a Long Way, Baby
. And that record itself was something of a surprise, since it not only exceeded the expectations set by the debut, but came damn close to being the definitive
album, rivaling
the Chemicals
' second record,
Dig Your Own Hole
. The difference is,
Cook
is a record geek with extensive knowledge and eclectic tastes. His juxtapositions -- the album swings from
hip-hop
to
reggae
jangle pop
, and then all combines into one sound -- are wildly original, even if the music itself doesn't break through the confines of
. Then again, when a record is this forceful and catchy, it doesn't need to break new stylistic ground -- the pleasure is in hearing a master work. And there's no question that
is a master of sorts --
is a seamless record, filled with great imagination, unexpected twists and turns, huge hooks, and great beats. It's the kind of record that gives
a good name. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine