Mark Ronson released his first album, Here Comes The Fuzz, without diverting much attention. Apart from the single stand out track, ‘Ooh Wee’, it was a typical ‘East Coast DJ with a record label’ album: nothing special, but still adorning the collections and lounges of old-school hip hop fans, including myself.
In 2007, he reached mainstream status. Abandoning the sampling and guest rappers, he opted for jazz inspired covers and rising stars in the pop world to provide vocals. Version was held in high regard by critics, being seen as a breath of fresh air amidst the influx of god awful rappers and remixes topping the charts. A cover album, yes, but it felt oddly original; he managed to completely convert Radiohead and Coldplay songs despite receiving numerous death threats along the way, and even 5 years later tracks from Version are still heard during nearly every ad break on telly.
Now, in 2010, Mark goes by the moniker Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. for some reason: whereas before his band would receive a mere mention on the back of the CD, they’ve now been promoted to accompanying his renowned name on the front cover. His pseudonym’s first album is Record Collection. The name and sleeve suggest he’s following the fashion of 80’s synth artists, such as Gary Numan, The Pet Shop Boys and possibly Lou Reed. It’s nothing special, instead just reminding me of the recent Real Radio adverts.
The first track is ‘Bang Bang Bang’, also the promo single. It’s clear from the first few seconds this is no follow-up to Version; a lovely synth riff and drum beat make it very catchy indeed. Ronson is a guitarist by nature, and the bass underneath is very lively in the chorus and does well to accompany its counterparts throughout. Q-Tip puts on a good performance, as do MNDR, even if I can’t tell what they’re saying half the time.
The next track, ‘Lose It’, features Mark singing for the first time. Clearly auto-tuned, but he only repeats one line over and over, so his voice is treated as an instrument, producing some good sounds. However, the rapping is awful. It just sounds thrown in, as is the case with the ‘The Bike Song’. He’s rapping about tandem bikes... there’s no need.
‘Somebody To Love Me’ is the closest you’ll get back to Version. The vocals are soulful and sound very natural... they clearly enjoyed making this one. In contrast, Rose Elinor Dougall’s backing is unnecessary, the song would sound much better with another black voice: the addition of an echoed white female voice adds a pop element that spoils the chorus.
‘You Gave Me Nothing’ sounds like a bad Europe B-side, and ‘The Colour of Crumar’ is just a shit filler, as with ‘Circuit Breaker’.
‘Glass Mountain Trust’ is a Gnarls Barkley rip-off which is clearly trying to be the album’s defining fusion of classic synth loops and modern rap, but it fails badly.
‘Introducing The Business’ does manage to pull it off, but then for some reason Ronson has brought in Simon Le Bon for the title track. If you’re trying to integrate modern vocals and 80s instrumentals it’s not a good idea to try and convert Duran Duran’s frontman to fit the former. Oh, and there’s another awful rap section.
‘Selector’ reminds me of ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ by Simple Minds, and whilst ‘Hey Boy’ again has the obligatory poor backing singer this time in the shape of Theophilus London going “HEY BOY HUH HUH”, the verses from Rose Elinor Dougall are fun.
‘Missing Words’ is a follow-up to ‘Bang Bang Bang’ before the final track, ‘The Night Last Night’. A nice drum beat welcomes the choir vocals from Alex Greenwald, and another nice verse from Rose. However, this track is clearly one for the remixers... there’s a sort of emptiness to it.
Overall, the latest outing by the hottest producer Britain has produced in a long time doesn’t do anyone justice. He’s stayed true to what’s influenced him but poorly added the modern element that makes albums fly off shelves. Trying to please everyone will never work; this is a very mainstream album.
To be honest, if you want good, original electronic music, instead of buying Mark Ronson & The Business Intl’s Record Collection, look through your Dad’s.
2 / 5
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