Mantronix: The Album

The Album is the debut album by the group Mantronix.

The Album
Studio album by
Mantronix
Released1985
StudioNew York City, New York
GenreElectro, hip-hop
Length35:53
LabelSleeping Bag[1]
ProducerMantronik, MC Tee
Mantronix chronology
The Album
(1985)		 Music Madness
(1986)
Alternative Cover
British Bonus Tracks Version
Alternative Cover
2008 Expanded Edition

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Pitchfork Media8.1/10[3]
Sputnikmusic[4]

From contemporary reviews, J. D. Considine gave the album a three star rating, noting its sound was "pretty run-of-the mill for hip-hop" with its "vintage electronic percussion" and M.C. Tee's "standard-issue raps."[5] Considine specifically noted that Mantronix "definitely has a way with the music. They assemble their jams with funky finesse, revving up the marhciner behind "Bassline" until the rap evaporates into pure rhythm" and that "Mega-Mix" was "about as CONCRETE as this music gets."[5] "The Album"'s track "Bassline" was praised by Ken Tucker who called it the most well-known cut as "a slinky dance-music composition that employs rap-music cadences to achieve a choppy frenetic effect" while stating the rest of the album "Isn't as innovative" with the exception of "Mega-Mix" which was "almost abstract collage of sound effects, comes close."[6] Paul Mathur of Melody Maker proclaimed the album went "for the paint stripper approach, burning away electro's lesser indulgences and leaving hard core hip hop of the highest order."[7]

The NME placed the album at number 10 on its year-end list of best albums of 1986.[8]

Track listing
  1. "Bassline" (Kurtis Mantronik, MC Tee) – 5:26
  2. "Needle to the Groove" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 3:41
  3. "Mega-Mix" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 5:35
  4. "Hardcore Hip-Hop" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 6:18
  5. "Ladies" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 6:55
  6. "Get Stupid "Fresh" Part I" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 3:52
  7. "Fresh Is the Word" (Mantronik, MC Tee) – 5:31

Bonus tracks

In February 2006, Virgin/EMI re-released the album in the UK with five bonus tracks and new cover art.

  1. "Ladies (Revived)"
  2. "Bassline (Stretched)"
  3. "Hardcore Hip Hop (NME Mix)"
  4. "Ladies (Dub)"
  5. "Ladies (Instrumental)"

Double-CD deluxe edition bonus tracks

On February 12, 2008, Traffic Entertainment Group released a double-CD edition of the album, titled simply Mantronix, with an extra disc and new cover art. The extra tracks are as follows:

  1. Bassline (Club Version)
  2. Needle to the Groove (12" Version)
  3. Fresh is the Word (12" Version)
  4. Ladies (UK Remix)
  5. Bassline (Radio Version)
  6. Bassline (12" Version)
  7. Needle to the Groove (Alternate Version)
  8. Jamming on the Groove
  9. Needle to the Groove (Live)
  10. Ladies (Live)
  11. Ladies (A Capella)
  12. Get Stupid "Fresh" Part 1 (A Capella)
  13. Fresh is the Word (Radio Version)
  14. Fresh is the Beat
  15. Fresh is the Word (A Capella)

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1986) Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 47

Singles

Year Single Billboard chart Position
1985 "Fresh Is the Word" Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 16
1985 "Needle to the Groove" Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 23

References
  1. Chin, Brian (1 February 1986). "dance trax". Billboard. 98 (5). ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  2. AllMusic website review
  3. Pitchfork Media review Archived 2008-04-26 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Sputnikmusic review
  5. Considine.
  6. Tucker.
  7. Mathur 1986.
  8. "Albums and tracks of the Year 1986". NME. Retrieved April 20, 2015.

Sources
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