I'm not quite sure when the Mighty Mr. Thelen (TM) is going to run this review as I had submitted one for the original version of Talk On Corners. In any case, if you want some of my thoughts on that album, know that they're out here somewhere. (Ed. note: Actually, the version I found that we ran was from Duke Egbert .)

I do wonder, though, what exactly prompted the young quartet from Ireland to go and remix their last album. After all, the remixing of albums has been, up to this point, something that only guys like Rob Zombie do. Still, how many people are going to rush to their local music stores to buy a remixed version of the albums they already bought? I think most would consider that an attempt to rip off their fanbase. What's the point of all this? Nothing more than to say I don't know why the band felt they needed to remix their album. However, they did.

This album starts with a remixed version of "What Can I Do." In this case, I found the remix to be a better version than the original. They spruced up the sound, made the drums sound crisper, added violins and -this was big - removed the "du-du"s. This made the song sound more mature and full. "So Young" was also remixed, though I couldn't tell a difference. It does sound clearer, but not by much. In any case, I already liked the song as an example of good pop. Their remix of "Dreams" does work as well. It makes the song sound a bit otherworldy, thanks to some celtic sounds.

However, not every one of the remixes works well. The remix of "Runaway" - the original from their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten - is in no way a match for the original version. Also, I do believe that their instrumental "Paddy McCarthy" was remixed as well. It sounds a bit more pop-oriented than the first version.

The rest of the album, though, is the original studio versions of Talk On Corners. Here would be a good place to tell you to read that original review. If you can't find it, here's the lowdown. I loved "Only When I Sleep" and still do. This song is great and still can't believe that the producers of Felicity or some WB/teen show hasn't taken this song for their soundtrack. "I Never Really Loved You Anyway" is another good pop song as is "No Good For Me." On the other side, you have "Queen Of Hollywood" and "Hopelessly Addicted." Then, there's the same version of "Little Wing," which I still can't compare to Jimi Hendrix's version, but I still believe Stevie Ray Vaughan did it better. Oh well.

I guess that what breaks the bank for me is that this is not a new and complete album, but rather something cooked up to sell more records. If you were not captured by the original version of Talk On Corners, then here was the more-hip one for you to buy. And, if you're a fan, you feel compelled to go out and purchase this album - even if you have the original one. That's not right. What makes this situation worse is that only less than a half of the album is remixed. Why stick both new versions and old versions? At least Rob Zombie has the decency of fully remixing the entire album. Or, if they wanted remixes of songs from both albums, that would have been better than the half-assed job you get here.

Had this been the first time I had heard these songs, I would have perhaps been more lenient. If the first version had not existed, I would have given this album a B-. However, as a remix album, I could give it only a D. Therefore, I will average both and give them the middle grade. Next time, make sure the album you release is the one that will still be out there. Don't do this to fans.

Rating: C-

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