I think it's about time to update
Junkie XL. It's been a while.
In June of 2002, the first-ever authorized remix of Elvis Presley was released, as remixed by Junkie XL (now just Tom Holkenborg). The single, "A Little Less Conversation" credited as "Elvis vs JXL", reached #1 in 25 countries and held there for 11 weeks in Norway and Denmark. It was Junkie XL's biggest hit so far (at least in the US), though generally it is credited more to Elvis and not JXL.
(Note: Everyone I know who knows that song has not actually heard of Junkie XL.)
(Note: Go figure.)
One year later, the now-solo Junkie XL released his third album, "Radio JXL - A Broadcast from the Computer Hell Cabin". As the title might suggest, the album is based on the concept of a pirate radio station. Many many vocalists are featured on the album, including Saffron from the band Republica, Solomon Burke, and Gary Numan.
The sound of Junkie XL has changed from the days of the first two albums. The music used to be electronica/dance with big beat/rock mixed in, but now it has swayed much more toward the electronica/dance side of things since the 'band' disbanded and Tom Holkenborg runs the Junkie XL show himself. (Tom is also touring the world currently to promote Radio JXL.)
The first disc of the double-album is titled 3PM, and it follows the sound of a radio station playing on an afternoon. The seperate tracks are all between 3-5 minutes, and follow a pop-ish feel. There are included an intro and an outro, with a 'configuring audio systems' in there too, and Tom gives out the Station ID on most every song.
The second disc has a very different feel. Titled 3AM, this one follows the idea of a DJ in a club mixing tracks for the people in the club. Nearly all of the tracks beatmatch and mix together, and it is generally consistant from start to finish.
The (gasp!) third disc of album (does not come with the first two, nor does the fourth), titled 7AM - Ambient, is basically a chill-out journey. It is a peaceful album with some beats mixed in, though it is not meant for dancing.
The fourth disc is called 7AM - Dance. This one also follows the same form and concept as 3AM.
The complete tracklist for all four discs is as follows:
CD1: 3PM
01 Intro 3PM
02 Crusher (feat. Saffron)
03 Don't Wake Up Policeman (feat. Peter Tosh & Friends)
04 Reload (feat. Dave Gahan)
05 Spirits (feat. Saffron)
06 Angels (feat. Gary Numan)
07 Perfect Blue Sky (feat. Robert Smith)
08 Between These Walls (feat. Anouk)
09 Access To The Excess (feat. Chuck D)
10 Catch Up To My Step (feat. Solomon Burke)
11 Never Alone (feat. Terry Hall)
12 Logos (feat. Phil Mills)
13 Configuring Audio System
14 Nightmares (feat. Infusion)
15 Beauty Never Fades (feat. Saffron)
16 Rivers (feat. Shelley Harland)
17 Aqua Man (feat. Infusion)
18 Broken (feat. Grant Nicholas)
19 JXL Radio Technical Support
CD2: 3AM
01 Intro 3AM
02 Chilled
03 Dubzilla
04 Casio
05 Angels (12" Cut)
06 Breezer (feat. Sasha)
07 Nudge
08 Red
09 Beauty Never Fades (12" Cut)
10 Cosmic Cure
11 Reshurc
CD3: 7AM - Ambient
01 Reload - 7AM Remix (feat. Dave Gahan)
02 Talk Tonight
03 Streets
04 Twilight
05 Rivers (feat. Shelley Harland)
06 Tommy Dub
07 Sphere
08 All I Want
09 Mogwai (feat. Paul Malone)
CD4: 7AM - Dance
01 Tennis
02 Electro
03 Angels - 7AM Surreal (feat. Gary Numan)
04 Techno Ibiza
05 Drubba Drub
06 Destiny
07 Egypt
08 Heat
09 Groovy
10 See The Light?
The first two discs, 3PM and 3AM, are avaliable in whatever music store might carry them, as a double album. The second two, both 7AM discs, are only avaliable on RadioJXL.com as an MP3/WMA download, for (currently) $6.99 for the pair.
In my (short) opinion, all four discs are full of great music and well worth the money.
For more, visit the official site RadioJXL.com or www.JunkieXL.nl.