Live On Brighton Beach

07/18/2002 10:00 PM, LAUNCH
Ken Micallef

All hail the Doofus Dance King! If Norman Cook hadn't invented his populist dance music alternative, would the corporately co-opted genre even exist anymore? The perfect smiley face for today's happy dance music, Cook offers a fresh alternative to lame house beats as well as experimental electronica that may be too challenging for those who just want to shake butt. Whether on record or in live DJ sets, Cook makes an audience move, and his wacky sense of humor erases any notions of insider exclusivity.

Cook begins Brighton Beach with a brief snippet of Underworld's classic "Born Slippy," quickly morphing into his own "Right Here Right Now." Subtle remixing occurs during the disc's 18 tracks, with surprise samples (Daryl Hall, Stephanie Mills) and unique song selections throughout. It's a four-on-the-floor fest, blowing through fresh tracks like Minimal Funk's soul satisfied "The Groovy Thang," the Clump's sanctified "The Talk," and Santos's robotically rocking "3-2-1 Fire!" Cook wouldn't be true to his anything-for-a-laugh message if he didn't include some truly annoying tunes, complying here with Basement Jaxx's "Where's Your Head At," Black and White Brothers' "Put Your Hands Up," and Love Tattoo's moronic "Drop Some Drums." There are plenty of remixed Fatboy tunes in here as well, reminding you to always spend your hard earned dollars and pounds close to home.