Outsider

Of course DJ Shadow music is great why else would you be liking him up ? But the seller Ray Ray’s is great shows some TLC to your personal collection of records.

This album is incredible! As a whole, on its own, I may not recommend this to everyone. DJ Shadow spun my universe around with his 1996 release Endtroducing. (Endtroducing was the first album to ever be made entirely of sampled music). Since that day I have been hooked on DJ Shadow and his beats.The Outsider does follow along the same footsteps as Endtroducing but not even Shadow himself will top that mind altering album. I digress...The Outsider opens with a story. The story truly gave me goosebumps as I heard it for the first time. The Outsider is a character who could be a part of society today. With the political climate as it is, "The Outsider" would be a welcome person indeed. What follows is a series of songs that, for most artists, do not really belong together. This album could be called eclectic if you did not listen for the underlying message. Shadow (see the album cover art as reference to the real life "Shadow" character-"Only the Shadow Knows!") takes a stand and touches on our society and how the survivors of Katrina were treated as well as the many of our marginalized and disenfranchised are ignored. Shadow is honest and does not hold back. He does give his listeners many positive rays of hope.I do feel that Shadow edges a bit closer to a "club sound" during parts of this work, he still does not disappoint those who are searching for sick, insane and original beats.Endtroducing was (and still is) one of the greatest works I have ever heard. I would consider it a concept album, seamlessly allowing my mind to wander. The Outsider is not quite as seamless but does represent a concept (or concepts) and is original.Get this album!

I'm compelled to put my two cents in on this record after seeing all the one-star reviews pouring in. The album might not be your cup of tea, but it is not a bad album at all.If you are a big fan of DJ Shadow, but not a fan of rap or hip-hop, you owe it to yourself to try this album out. It will challenge you, and you may not like some of the music. But I'll wager that DJ Shadow fans are more open minded to competant music of many genres, and I think you'll be surprised at what you do like off this album.If you approach this record thinking it's going to be more of the same from DJ Shadow, you're likely to be disappointed. However, if you enjoy being challenged by an artist you admire, there is a lot this album has to offer.I am not a big fan of hip-hop or rap music, and this is the most rap-oriented album DJ Shadow has released. That said, track 10 (Backstage Girl) is so far my favorite track. I enjoyed the latter half of the album more than the first half, but on future listens I still plan to give it all a listen. By comparison, The Private Press had several tracks that didn't win me over right away, but the songs grew on me (notably, "Walkie Talkie" was a track I hated on first listen, and now it's one of my favorites off that album).Thank you, Josh Davis, for making this album; I still can't call myself a rap fan, but I better understand what you see in that genre.

Well, after amazing "Endtroducing" and "The Private Press" I was expecting something more. DJ Shadow abandoned his uniqe style of his first records while making this album. And it's not much of a solo album anymore, almost every track is featured by different artists... It's no longer mainly 'intrumental' music, all tracks have vocals. This album isn't bad though, but if you were a fan of DJ Shadow first records, then "The Outsider" will make you a little bit dissapointed.

First off I want to say both endroducing... and Private press are masterpieces. I really thought outsider was an amazing album and all this talk about commercialism is nonsense. He finally adds some rappers and decent singers to an album and all the fans start bitching about it, this is ridiculous! the guest spots are people who don't even get radio play and if they do it's not very often and His styles always vary from album to album so let it go and give it a chance and a few listens. I will say though if you're new to DJ Shadow don't start here start at endtroducing

Highs and lows. The intro is very solid but there is a little too much hyphee stuff. The follow up album was superior. This feels like a transitional album where Shadow is trying to work out what he wants it to be and never really settles on anything.

I'd expected something different from DJ Shadow and The Outsider is different. I bought the first two singles on iTunes and then decided I'd buy the whole CD. Unfortunately, at least for me, the two singles where the bright spot of an otherwise scattershot album. If you are a fan of Entroducing or The Private Press, take the time to listen to all the song previews here before you buy. I found this album disorganized and not playing to Shadow's strengths as a turntablist, and the forays into rap simply didn't work for me.

Shadow's popular reviewed cd's are good. But 'Outsider' is in my opinion his best. Best beats, more variety, really good flow and songs. Give it a try. Five stars in my view. Very professional and tasteful. Reviews help but are not always the 'word'.

A sound experiment, but away from his strengths.

ＤＪシャドウの新作。前作、前々作と比べるて、全然違う。ほとんどの曲にボーカルがある！この作品でＤＪシャドウは、自分の好きなものという基準を前面に出して作品を作り上げたのだそうだ。だから、ＤＪシャドウという人はこういう人だったのだな、ということがこの作品を聞くとわかるのだと思う。それで、わかることのひとつに、ＤＪシャドウはＤＪと付くだけあって、やっぱりＤＪなのだなぁ、ということがあると思う。今までは、サンプリング・アーティストとか呼ばれたりして、いろんな曲の要素をつなぎ合わせながら曲を作るからそう呼ばれたのだろうと思うけど、今作では、いろんな要素の曲をつなぎ合わせてひとつのアルバムを作り出した、という感じである。わかりにくいけど、要するに、素晴らしい曲が詰まったアルバムだということ。各々が違った特徴を持つ曲たちを、ひとつのアルバムとしてまとめ上げている。その辺にシャドウの手腕が発揮されてて、そこがとてもＤＪ的だと思うのだ。これは、クアンナムとか、アンクルでやったことの延長上にある作品だと思う。それから、9曲目の「アーティファクト」という曲には、元レイジ・アゲンスト・ザ・マシーンのザックのヴォーカルがのせられたバージョンがあるそうなのだが、ザックとレコード会社との不和が原因で、そちらのほうのトラックはお蔵入りしているようである。その点がこの作品においてただ一点、非常に残念なことである。

DJ SHADOWの待望の新作です。夏フェスや雑誌のレビューで、かなりテンション高めだと聞いていて、てっきりCut Chemistの新作と似たものを想像していました。ですが全然違ってました。「コレがあのDJ SHADOW?」と思うくらい曲調が違います。雑味のあるサンプリングも聴かれません。おそらく多くのヒトがDJ SHADOWに期待していた事は殆どしていません。じゃぁこのアルバムが「ナシ」かと言えばそぉでもないのです。思いつきや気まぐれでなく、前作を発表した後に溜りに溜ったものを吐き出している感が凄くします。そぉいう意味でテンションが高いのでしょう。全曲クオリティも高いです。個人的にはこんなに太っといキックは余り聴いたことがありません。是非ともこのアルバムの曲をプレイしているライブが観てみたいです(ライブが見たいDJなんてそんじょそこらにいないのですから)。

Late to this album , though was there at the beginning for Endtroducing and Private Press (proving other reviewers point you may say) - I like it , ok it does not have the conceptual flow of its predecessors and is front loaded with some aggressive rappers intent on name checking the shadow at the first opportunity , but it's still a great listen even as a 'weird compilation' as described elsewherePS the recent Roundhouse show 07.10.17 illustrated that Shadow does not repeat , resisting the temptation to recycle 21 year old Endtro , though flashing past some parts - to great audience response of course.Sometimes if you have an itch , its better not to scratch it

It seems as though this gets poor reviews just because it's different to Endtroducing.. and The Private Press. This is a bit depressing as The Outsider is some of the most entertaining, inventive hip hop ever created. A series of collaborations with an eclectic mix of vocalists from a wide range of musical genres this never ceases to delight. Put aside your preconceptions and enjoy.