Tiesto: Kaleidoscope (Album Review)

by Bradley Stern
filed under: Album Review, Bloc Party, Calvin Harris, Cary Brothers, Emily Haines, Jónsi Birgisson, Ladytron, Nelly Furtado, Sigur Rós, Sneaky Sound System, Tegan And Sara, Tiesto, Tilly And The Wall

Tiestokaleidoscope 300x300 Tiesto: Kaleidoscope (Album Review)

Arguably one of the world’s greatest trance DJs, Dutch producer Tiesto has continued to redefine the boundaries of trance music with his signature emotive style and arena-ready sound for over fifteen years.

For his fourth major studio release Kaleidoscope, the premiere producer of trance sought some of the music scene’s most dynamic characters, ranging from global superstars (Calvin Harris, Sneaky Sound System, Nelly Furtado) to an assortment of lesser known, left-of-center acts (Tegan & Sara, Bloc Party‘s Kele Okereke, Sigur Ros‘ Jonsi) The result? A powerhouse collection of single-worthy uptempos bursting with indie cred and trance appeal, appealing to both the body and soul.

One standout involves Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, who had her first taste of dance with her 2006 album, Loose. Replace the generic Timbaland-produced beats of that album with a flurry of glittering, electro-encrusted pulsations, and you’ve got “Who Wants To Be Alone,” a devastatingly addictive dancefloor haunt guaranteed to delight on repeat time and time again.

Other winners include Emily Haines‘ turn on the storming “Knock You Out,” which plays like Ladytron on E, the warm synth pulsations of the Cary Brothers-assisted “Here On Earth,” and “You Are My Diamond,” a throwback to the days of pure, ‘90’s pulsating bliss. The track is made all the better thanks to a shamelessly celebratory, sugary sweet delivery from Kianna Alarid, known best as the lead singer of Tilly and the Wall.

“Feel It in My Bones,” featuring indie darlings Tegan & Sara is perhaps the album’s greatest track, and undoubtedly the epitome of the album’s intentions. As Tiesto’s cool, calculated trance vibrations shudder underneath, Tegan & Sara’s smart-pop sensibility lift the track and create something new; the result becoming a celebration of the art of collaboration.

Simply speaking, there’s not a bad track in the bunch–at least in terms of the vocal offerings. The album’s only drawback can be found in its five instrumental tracks, included as a kind of overcompensating injection of Tiesto trance, lest we somehow forget who’s in charge behind the scenes of all of these guest spots. Sadly, they do little for the album here, aside from providing long, unnecessary breaks between the meat of the album. Skip them, and you’ve got one hell of a solid set.

Kaleidoscope is unlike anything Tiesto has done before (and surely nothing its guests have recorded). In spite of what could have been a risky undertaking (whether or not devoted fans of each genre will come to embrace this album remains to be seen), Tiesto’s fifth studio album is nothing short of excellence–allowing indie music the pulse it never knew it needed and dance music the lyrical sophistication it has so stubbornly ignored. Hearing the two genres come together? Well, that’s why this is nothing short of a musical dream come true.

Kaleidoscope will be released on October 20.

onemuurating Tiesto: Kaleidoscope (Album Review) onemuurating Tiesto: Kaleidoscope (Album Review) onemuurating Tiesto: Kaleidoscope (Album Review) onemuurating Tiesto: Kaleidoscope (Album Review) nomuurating Tiesto: Kaleidoscope (Album Review)

Purchase more from Tiesto on iTunes | MySpace | Official Website

pixel Tiesto: Kaleidoscope (Album Review)

Newer Comments →
  • mdr

    Please firstly know that my comments are not an attack on you personally. That said, let me respond.

    “A powerhouse collection of single-worthy uptempos bursting with indie cred and trance appeal, appealing to both the body and soul.”

    What on this album denotes “powerhouse”…? It’s passable at best, yet in no sincere way worthy of being branded “powerhouse”. Also, if you can somehow feel (and then suggest) this album appeals to the SOUL then possibly your soul is misled with temporary indulgences and shallow gratifications.

    Track production here is sounding rushed, simple, cheesey, in my summary: designed for commercial radio. Not only that, but it actually felt as the introductory and instrumental songs were incomplete or somewhat underdeveloped ideas. I felt dissatisfied or unfulfilled by their journey.

    Have IQ’s dipped sharply through commercial dance music?

    You only have to speak the lyrics out loud to yourself and hear what you’re saying to quickly realise the song writing is rather appalling and many times nonsensical.

    This album had not very much trance appeal, yet it has commercial dance radio appeal interwoven throughout. In fact I’d be willing to bet that at some point the producer/s said or thought “this should be for radio”.

    “…you’ve got one hell of a solid set.”

    This should definitely NOT be considered a worthy or “solid set” in the ears of a discerning tiesto fan who maintains objectivity in the face of an increasingly obvious commercial venture. In years to come I fail to see how many, if any, will be remembering this album by comparison to other tiesto works. “Kaleidoscope” is hardly the stuff of long-lasting memories.

    The one thing I like about your review is that it is optimistic, however whether it is realistic remains to be seen by actual-world listener reaction.

    Thanks for hearing me out!

  • santiago maiza

    just awasome..

    thats why..??? you are the best

    TIESTO – 4EVER 2DAY

  • Teddy

    stop sucking Tij’s cock. This album sucked ass and you know it. Have you listened to his past stuff? Apparenlty not. You sir, are not a fan of Tijs. You are a fan of shit. Listen to ISOS 1 or some Magik. then come review this again.

  • http://www.muumuse.com Bradley Stern

    Duly noted: Tiesto has the worst fans in the world.

  • http://www.twitter.com/ONYP3RF3C710N ONYP3RF3C710N

    Agreed.

  • RJ

    omg.

  • steve

    u all are a piece of mah shit if u dnt like tiesto then suck mah balls and lick mah ass

  • Andries

    Awesome review Bradley!
    This is album is so freakin’ good. All tracks are so awesome!

  • dylann

    the album was not bad
    it was too “poppy” and not regular tiesto
    hopefully the concert is still great

  • Anonymous

    Poor album. Gave it one listen. Hope ISOS 8 is better :( come on Tijs

  • Nik_85

    Com’on Tiesto …
    This album is sooooo Bad , it’s sounds like it was made on the fast track…
    next time , Make something more TIESTO sound… i hope ISOS-8 will come out soon , cuz i wont listen to this cd ever , it was the first ans the last…

  • Dave

    I’m glad for once others agree with me. This is a poor excuse for a Tiesto album. Compare it to In My Memory. There is no comparison. I think in future I will save my money….

  • Tiesto Fan that’s Sad

    This album was so bad it reminded me of what happen with Paul Oakenfold when he decided to move to California, his music style changed and this reminded me of that tragic event ( I still think Paul Oak is the shiz with some of his new styles but I miss the old). Tiesto list of plays on this CD were so bad, I’d rather listen to Top 40′s in my car played by Mariah Carey ( and I don’t even like Mariah Carey). Maybe his next CD will be great, but next time I’ll check out the songs before I buy.

  • http://www.cobrayawn.com Sajjad

    Tiesto has always been my #1 artist of all time, of all genre, but after listening to Kaleidoscope, I was doubting myself. I sold my tickets for his tour of Toroto just past weekend .. I mean it’s that bad. He needs something epic e.g. ISOS 5 or ISOS 7 to bounce back (in my head atleast). I turned away to PVD instead, he gets better with age.

  • Bazza

    Seriously i LOVE tiestos old shit it was insane, and i was disappointed when i first heard the new album but keep listenign to it and it grows on yu , yes it is very different to his old stuff but it is still awesome, i beleive as a whole album it is his best but none of the songs singuarly will come up to Elements Of Life or Adagio for strings or dance for life etc.

  • Rich

    Damn, should have read more than just the first review that showed up on Google before buying this. Total uninspired commercial sell-out from the man who, as I remember, was claiming to have rediscovered himself in Mixmag not that long ago. I haven’t been this disappointed with an album in ages.

  • Ashley

    How disappointing. If you’re into female vocals, then cha cha cha your way through the first 3/4 of the album. But, if you’re into the hardcore dance of Tiesto past, then skip this album and probably the tour. I ditto the other comments about “listen before you buy”… won’t make that mistake again. This is only “dance radio” quality tunes. The instrumental tracks at the end (most, but not all) are the only things keeping me from making this disc a coaster immediately. Now, if I can sell my tour tickets in Atlanta for Saturday, hummm….

  • Brian

    I was very dissapointed. I liked Elements of Life better than this, I liked In My Memory… all that stuff. Ferry Corsten happens to be my favorite DJ but Tiesto is a close second, and this album just sounds like garbage. Nothing i can run to, nothing to move to really….. and the vocal tracks are not even mixed that well. OUCH.

  • RJ

    Because of all of the negative comments left on this page, I decided I needed to take a listen to this record to see if it’s really as bad as everyone claims it to be.

    It’s not. I had goosebumps by the first song, my eyes opened wider than an anime character and at times actually teared up. As someone who knows how music is made & as a general lover of music, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this record and very well may be the best dance record I’ve heard in years.

    As for all of you selling your tickets, Are you fucking kidding me? If I heard these synths in a live setting, literally having the waveforms pounding from the speakers, vibrating the area and feeling the music bounce off my skin — I would be OVERCOME with emotion. Especially some of the things that go on in the tracks opener.

    Just because there are some ~New, improved & hipster~ vocalists on the songs doesn’t mean he’s sold out and gone mainstream. If you took Tegan & Sara, Nelly Furtado or any other singer on this record off their tracks and had a solely instrumental album, this would still be Godly.

    You don’t get airplay with trance beats. No matter how mainstream you make them. You don’t get airplay with songs over 3 minutes long. This is not a sell out.

    You’re all fucking insane. Being male, I believe Tthis album is the closest I will ever get to double orgasm. To the left.

  • P.J.

    Saw Tiesto in Montreal on Oct 2, He played a crazy insane 5 and a half hour set. He did incorporate alot of his new album into the set seamlessly. You would have to be crazy to sell your tickets to his shows, this is truly when he shows you how talented he really is. I have been a huge fan of Tiesto’s for the past 11 years and own many of his albums. I think people just need to be opened minded about this album. It will grow on you.

  • Helen

    I’ve been a Tiesto fan for a long time and yes this album is not his best but it’s has good songs. At the beginning, I was disappointed but after seeing him live in NY, the songs are stuck in my head :)
    Listen to “Knock You Out,” “Here On Earth,” “I Will be There,” and “Feel It In My Bones” – you will learn to like them.

    Tiesto is trying something different and fans should be open minded. The ones who don’t care for his music, don’t have to listen to it.

  • http://none Kieran Hallissey

    For me this should be the final nail in the coffin for Tiesto.
    Where are the days of nyana gone?Now thats an album that deserves the tag of “powerhouse”. Perfectly balanced and haunts your soul on a bad day-not to say what it can do on a good day-this album feels like it got put together with an underage rave test audience-no balance and its so sad because with the gritty indie opener performed excellenty by Jónsi Birgisson. When i herd this opening track I really thought Tiesto had done it-I thought he had broken the shackles of “Adagio” and branched out to his original more serious sounds but it wasnt to be the case. Listen to the album but dont expect to be blown away-and mourn for who was once-”The No.1 DJ in the world”
    RIP Tiesto-Its up to you now Sander to take the reigns-please dont fall into the same trap as the once Great Tiesto did
    Kieran.

  • Mike

    I thought I was the only one wanting more of Tiestos signature trance in this album. I’m not really liking some of the vocal tracks, but most grew on me the more I listened to them. Where did the NUMBER 1 DJ in the WORLD go? I think AVB is takin’ over the trance scene.

    I truly miss Tiestos flair from Traffic or Lethal Industry . I got goosebumps when I first heard Adagio, but not for this new pop music. I agree that Tiesto seems to be going commercial, which IMO is very depressing. Guess it’s time to move on…

  • Lars

    I’m definitely disappointed with the overall album–it’s certainly not terrible listening but has adopted much more of an indie atmosphere which one will “learn to like” but lack the appeal and emotion that moves the listener. His attention has definitely shifted but I think his concert will still be enjoyable although I am not going to get my hopes up.

  • http://www.iconfinder.net Martin Leblanc

    Great pop-album but nothing long-lasting – a below the quality of the usual ISOS-mixes. Maybe some great DJ’s will do remixes of some of these tracks.

  • Lei

    This album is NOT trance like in any form. I tried to listen with an open mind but none of the tracks hit an emotional chord as trace music often does. It does not take me away nor does it seem harmonic.
    This album has just left me irritated and unsatisfied. Admittedly there are bits which are great but I find the music is overpowered by the lyrics instead of being a fluid part of the experience.

  • http://rahil.ca Rahil Sondhi

    This album is friggen amazing! I don’t understand why there’s such a big gap, it seems like you either love it or hate it. The tracks are sick:

    Century
    Feel it my bones
    Bend it like you don’t care
    Knock you out
    Louder than boom (this song is nuts)
    I am strong

    I love every track!

  • jogi

    -
    i think all the nay-sayers are just being stupid…trance is about open-ness…embrace the new…enjoy the view…(before anyone points out that this is an example of inane lyrics ;) … i know) in the end all that matters is pulling at every cell of my being…even when i’m dead sober…AWESOMEest album ever…even the instrumentals…

  • Baber

    all you people being critical of the album – its really hard to believe you are real Tiesto fans – you have to remember this is the same guy whose experimentation with Trance yielded Adiagio for Strings, Elements of Life and all the ISOS albums….this is a bold move in a direction that no safe DJ would have ever taken – the result is brilliance, great tunes to listen to while driving or raving live to Tiesto….I have already seen him THRICE on this tour and also bought tickets to his new year’s show in Vegas, the guy is nothing short of a genius – much like what U2 has done with/to Rock n Roll, Tiesto is evolving…so listen to this album a few times and don’t dismiss it as a shallow album after just one try…..because even if you, you are just judging a book by its cover….doesn’t get much more shallow than that…..

    it’s a pleasure to continue this great journey with Tiesto…..imagine what he will deliver in the future – WOW!

  • MihaiAlexander

    I firstly was very disapointed when I listened to his songs, I like “I will be here” but the others are shit. I am a great fan of Tijs but I think he should come back 2 old style. Remember Nyana, Traffic etc? He’ll get away from the TOP DJ’s if he continues like that. :( Sad about him. And ClubLife is getting worse and worse I can’t belive that. Your fan, Alex.

  • Raf

    I am really into Trance and all kind of electronic music. I have to say I really cant enjoy this album at all because I expect so much more from Tiesto. I went to a Tiesto concert in Privilege, Ibiza this year and it was a hundred times better than this album. I guess we should stick to Club Life in order to keep enjoying Tiesto’s music.

  • Leonardo

    For those who already watched new Tiesto tour: Is he just playing the new ones? If not, how is the balance?

  • Johnny

    I think this album is okay. I mean I want ISOS 8 SOON! One of the songs in this album made me cry.

  • Chrissy

    Okay. Seriously. This album was a huge disappointment for me. I actually PURCHASED this album, and in today’s world that is something that is rare (thanks to the internet:P). I am not saying it sucks…But…The tracks are not even mixed together!!! I mean…That’s what has always made Tiesto’s albums awesome: His ability to mix together music flawlessly. Some of these songs are generic sounding…I’m not finding this album “trance” enough for my tastes. I can hear a few of these songs played in a top 40 club (eep!). The thing with artists is that when it comes to their music, they often take in new directions. Some fans enjoy the new direction where as others oppose it. Sorry Tiesto…But I expected better! Nyana is still by far my fav album. I would not spend money on this album if I was any one, I wasted 12.99.

  • Ross

    He is only trying to conform to pop and current dance trends… Ive seen this with many of my favorite Trance producers over the years. Problem is the mainstream of trance has shifted to this overpowered pop and twerk simplistic house music style. Tiesto took that trend and then used mainstream artists to give his music even more Pop appeal.

    I can deal with the change in times but this music was by my standards simple and dull.

  • India and Abbey

    have not even heard you yet but well done

  • DJ Endemico

    Something that happens to me when I listen to the CD is that I can’t say if the song is trance or pop, and I don’t like pop. I mean, I respect all the good producers of pop music because their tracks are well made. But now I’m thinking if Tiesto is trying to steal Lady Gaga’s fans.

  • JKKO

    TIESTO’S
    BEST ALBUM EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    THANKS

  • Anonymous

    I think Tiesto has made better stuff in the early days, but there are several good tunes on the Album

  • l3ri

    Okay so maybe not as good as his previous stuff, but he’s still a trance god. Just wished it was a little more trance.. hm. But it’s definitely not bad enough to be selling your tickets over, apparently for some people it was their best experience for shows to date. I’m looking forward to seeing it on Friday. xD

  • Adi

    Before this album came out I was probably his biggest fan. After this album I can seriously see his career go down the hill unless he brings the real trance back. This album sucked big time and i feel sorry for the people who bought this album.

  • Shan

    I agree with Adi

  • Anonymous

    Lol, all the corny trance fans who lack any semblance of musical culture are mad.

  • Anonymous

    Tiesto didn’t write “Adagio for Strings”. It’s a vulgar euro-trash version of Barber’s masterpiece.

  • Anonymous

    Tiesto is the no.1 DJ in the world for the same reason Celine Dion is the no.1 singer in the world: they make obvious music. Tiesto should get credit for trying to broaden his horizons beyond soap-opera cheese.

  • http://ljkasdf Jason

    At first the album didn’t work for me. Once i saw him in concert on his current tour i realized just how good the album works for his live shows!! his opening with the track kaleidoscope is just brilliant and tracks like escape me sound so sick live..the album was made purely with his tour in mind

  • Anonymous

    “At first the album didn’t work for me. Once i saw him in concert on his current tour i realized just how good the album works for his live shows!! his opening with the track kaleidoscope is just brilliant and tracks like escape me sound so sick live..the album was made purely with his tour in mind.”

    I think that he set out to make the best record he could. Solid song always translate well live.

  • gUn

    The old trance is never coming back can’t u people understand that ? Be open minded and accept new things , how do you think Tiesto survived for all these years ? :D

  • VGA

    So everyone keeps trashing tiesto for his change in direction with his music but guess what?? A lot of us out there love vocal trance and I bet this number is even greater than the PURE trance lovers…. I mean…. look at Armin who is number 1 in the world now, most of his songs have vocals!!! Armin is my favorite, tiesto is growing on me now because of this last album, I am going to see him in two weeks and bet that I will be blown away!!! If you are his fans you should support him, if not, look for a different DJ to follow and quit critizising his change in music, I’m sure he will produce more tracks of your liking for the next ISOS. Peace!!!!

  • Hex

    I bought the CD in China for about 1 Pound. It wasn’t even worth one lousy pound. His new style sounds like some kind of commercial bublegum techno. Either he’s started taking drugs or he has stopped, i beleive in the latter.

Newer Comments →


show
 
close