Artist: Bassnectar Album: Mesmerizing the Ultra

Year: 2005
Duration: 0:0-1

A of Bassnectar's Mesmerizing the Ultra: A Must-Listen for EDM Fans

Bassnectar is a household name when it comes to electronic dance music (EDM) and has been consistently delivering mind-blowing tracks for over two decades. One of his most iconic albums, Mesmerizing the Ultra, released in 2005, remains a fan favorite to this day. As a music enthusiast and avid EDM listener, I decided to revisit this album and share my thoughts on it. This post will cover a brief history of Bassnectar, an overview of the album's genre, the best tracks of the album, the most innovative aspects, and my personal critic.
Bassnectar, aka Lorin Ashton, began his musical journey in 1996, experimenting with a mix of hip-hop, breakbeat, and jungle genre. He gradually gravitated towards electronic dance music and released his first studio album, Freakbeat for the Beatfreaks, in 2001. Today, he is known for his versatility in producing music and incorporating diverse elements from various genres. This versatility is evident in his album, Mesmerizing the Ultra, which blends elements of dubstep, breakbeat, trip-hop, and hip-hop.
The album's genre is primarily classified as glitch hop, a sub-genre of electronic music, which involves glitchy and manipulated sounds, like stuttering, pitch-shifting, and rhythmic modulation. Mesmerizing the Ultra perfectly exemplifies this genre and showcases Bassnectar's artistic vision. The album features thirteen tracks, including remixes of popular songs, that showcase his unique sound and style.
The album's standout tracks include Timestretch, Breathless, Enter the Chamber, and Laughter Crescendo. Timestretch is arguably the most iconic track on the album, with its infectious beat, synth-heavy melody, and mind-blowing drop that is still played at music festivals around the world. Breathless is equally impressive, with its soulful vocals and heavy bass that make it impossible not to groove along. Enter the Chamber is another favorite, with its glitchy beats and haunting melodies that give the listener an otherworldly experience. Laughter Crescendo stands out due to its unique structure, with its unconventional time signature and distorted sounds.
The most innovative aspect of the album is its ability to experiment with various genres and sounds while maintaining a cohesive sound. The album demonstrates Bassnectar's mastery of glitch hop, but the incorporation of dubstep and trip-hop elements elevates the album's sound and makes it stand out from other albums in the genre. The album's sound design and production are also noteworthy, with detailed and intricate soundscapes that are impossible not to appreciate.
My personal criticism of the album is that certain tracks can get repetitive and monotonous, with repetitive drum beats and predictable drops. While this is a common trait of the genre, it can become tiresome for some listeners. Additionally, some of the remixes of popular songs can feel out of place and take away from the album's artistic vision.
Bassnectar's Mesmerizing the Ultra is a must-listen for any electronic dance music fan, with its genre-bending sound and masterful production. The album offers an insight into Bassnectar's artistic vision and showcases his versatility as a music producer. While the album's repetitive nature and inclusion of remixes may not appeal to everyone, it remains a classic in the genre and a testament to Bassnectar's talent. As a longtime fan, I highly recommend giving the album a listen and experiencing the mesmerizing sounds for yourself.
Bassnectar's Mesmerizing the Ultra is a must-listen for any electronic dance music fan, with its genre-bending sound and masterful production. The album offers an insight into Bassnectar's artistic vision and showcases his versatility as a music producer. While the album's repetitive nature and inclusion of remixes may not appeal to everyone, it remains a classic in the genre and a testament to Bassnectar's talent. As a longtime fan, I highly recommend giving the album a listen and experiencing the mesmerizing sounds for yourself.