ELEMENTS: THE BEST OF MIKE OLDFIELD

It's really audacious to talk about "the best" work from a very prolific and important musician like Mike Oldfield. This one is a compilation that includes some excerpts of the best and more progressive and innovative M.O.'s albums (Tubular Bells, Ommadawn and Incantations), some "greatest FM hits" (Familiy Man, Moonlight Shadow, To France) and some traditional "magic" music (Portsmouth, In Dulce Jubilo).

IMHO, this is not a recommended way to know the Oldfield's discography, because a simple and short excerpt from Incantations or Tubular Bells never could demonstrate the majestic of such albums, and -in the other hand- there are many better songs than the most commercial showing here.

Nevertheless -as an approach to Mike Oldfield production- can be useful, but in any way definitive.

If you bought this collection from Mike oldfield, and only knew about him from Tubular Bells, are you in for a surprise. While some of his albums fit in to that inventive instrumental style, that hardly describes his work. And this collection gives a fair example of the broad spectrum of his music.

Of course, you do get Tubular Bells and Sentinel from Tubular Bells II (a song that indicates just how close a copy the second volume was), but the majority of the remainder of the album consists of pop songs. Inventive pop, with some fine production, but pop nonetheless.

One interesting selection is Family Man. The cover version by Daryl Hall & John Oates may be better known, but this version is much cooler. I can't say the same for most of the other pop tracks. While the music is okay, the lyrics are often quite strained.

A few other songs, like In Dulci Jubilo, attempt a world music style. While Oldfield's song may be authentic sounding, it doesn't hold my interest.

Hits, better known songs, but not really the best!

If I had to tell you how I met Oldfield's music, I must admit that I am one of those whose first encounter was Tubullar Bells, that short and edited version that everyone recognizes; that experience was long time ago when I did not even know about music, nor progressive rock, nor Mike Oldfield.

Well, some years ago when I began exploring the prog realm I found he was a very prolific and talented musician, and one of the first things I got was the DVD of Elements, which I liked mostly because of the performance of Tubullar Bells, I was (am) amazed when I watched it. The DVD version is cool and much better than this CD one, because it contains nice videos, live performances and some films with his music.

In this CD, you will find sixteen songs that make a total time of 63 minutes. The tracks here are probably his best hits, but not really his best songs. Well, for one who already know his music and appreciates progressive rock, then will be kind of disappointed with this album, though it is obvious that we won't find those long songs such as Ommadawn, Incantations or Hergest Ridge, we at least expected a better selection.

Anyway, in spite of his catchiest and poppiest music, one can enjoy this album, or at least try it because there are cool songs, Mike is guarantee of quality music (almost always). You will find here songs like "Moonlight Shadow", "In Dulci Jubilo", "Shadow on the Wall", "Fives Miles Out" and of course a short version of "Tubullar Bells".

Better get his studio albums, or if you want a compilation, better get the DVD of the same name: "Elements: The Best of Mike Oldfield". My final grade for this is two stars, just for fans. Anyway?

Enjoy it!