Review Summary: A not so brilliant romp through d&b mixed with dubstep/house and other flavours. '2' holds host to some enjoyable moments, yet overall, doesn't hold up against the artist's awesome debut.
Netsky has become somewhat of a force to be reckoned with in the d&b genre. His debut album was nothing short of excellent, combining a number of different sounds to create a fresh, liquid d&b gem. However, his sophomore effort is somewhat lackluster. Whilst it retains some standout tracks, as a whole, the album fails to deliver the same knockout punch that his debut had. Why is this?
Well, to be frank, Netsky probably realised that his music would reach a wider audience if he streamlined his sound into a more mainstream affair. There are very few redeeming factors to '2' - the albums opening track isn't necessarily bad, it is just utterly forgettable. The same goes for the remaining tracks of the album, bar a few real standout moments. Come Alive is an enjoyable track, mixing dubstep with d&b (and doing it pretty well I might add). Give and Take is another great track - after the build up of the intro, the track kicks in with a synth line that will stick in your head for weeks. It is true that Netsky has the capacity to write very catchy d&b tunes, with good melodies and solid rhythm sections. It is just also true that he did this much better on his debut effort.
Get Away From Here starts out promisingly, with a good beat and some piano stabs. However, the track soon dimnishes into an incredibly boring affair, with the title of the song repeated inanely by the featured female vocalist. All in all, it sounds like a broken record and just becomes annoying. 911 is nothing extraordinary - again, the repeated title by the robotic vocalist gets aggravating. Puppy is one of the better tracks off the latter half of the album - this one has a real summer vibe to it and the carried melodies are most enjoyable throughout. When Darkness Falls is likley to be one of the more 'epic' sounding songs from the batch. After a nice strings introduction, the track gradually builds in pace (only to a moderate tempo however) and proves to be another enjoyable listen.
The remaining few tracks left on the album are a mixed bag - Detonate is an example of a more ominous sound. It mixes d&b and dubstep yet again (common on this album perhaps) but No Beginning is another highlight. Mostly excellent drum patterns linked together with some very good female vocals. The melodies are also vibrant, arpeggiated niceties and overall, it is a better example of what is on offer here. The final track is yet another mediocre listen - nothing much really happens, just a repeated drum pattern and swelling bass line. But it isn't an awful ending to the album.
Overall, Netsky's sophomore effort showcases a few decent tracks but as a whole, you are likely to find an album riddled with flaws and mediocrity. His debut was glorious - his follow up, not so much. Be cautious if you think this is going to be as interesting, varied and enjoyable as the debut album. Quite frankly, it just isn't.
