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The Crystal Method has gone all-out on this reissue of its debut, celebrating ten years of happifying fans of electronica. There's two discs worth of material for fans to sort through - enough to keep 'em busy as they revisit classic tracks from the Method and hear startling variations on these classic track, as well as a few other goodies. First off is Disc One (duh!), the original "Vegas" album remastered so you can hear every last drop of acidy goodness in these texture-heavy tunes. Those textures and that LSD edge are vital elements of the tracks on "Vegas." Indeed, without those, the album would fade away. Of course, the catchy grooves can't be ignored, though, ironically, I think that's where the album's weak spot shows up. While the rhythms and grooves are pretty damn tight here, the album overall displays a slight lack of hook. It's odd, because the distinctive rhythms employed by Crystal Method boast a pretty sweet flow. Somehow, though, I kept waiting for the music to take that one last step - like its just an nth away from putting it over the top and bringing it home, as though I felt the breeze as the hook swept right by my ear, grazing but missing. The tiny but pivotal piece of energy missing on disc one (which is still a good disc, believe me) is present and accounted for on the second disc, replete with remixes from a number of other electronica artists, such as Tom Real, The Rogue Element, Paul Oakenfold, Koma and Bones ... and so on. These tracks hit with the pulse that's almost-but-not-quite-there on the original album. But at the same time, by straying from what makes The Crystal Method, well, The Crystal Method, these remixes make a trade-out, exchanging a chunk of the Method's personality in return for that boost of energy. Of course, remixing is frequently the art of completely redefining a song, and on that count, these are successful. There is also a demo track, a live track and a pair of videos to round out the package. Crystal Method completists will certainly want to snap this up and those who like "Vegas" but, for whatever reason, haven't gotten around to buying it, will want to buy this version. The curious would also do well to start here. Big beat breaks aficianados will also benefit from this package. There's no denying The Crystal Method's artistic significance in the world of electronica and my near miss in trying to click with "Vegas" should serve as no discouragement for others. -- review by Kristofer Upjohn
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