Released 2 September 2008 Label 541 | Release date 2 September 2008 | |
 | ||
Poplife Presents: Poplife Sucks is a compilation of dance tracks inspired by the Poplife parties that started in Belgium in 1998. The tracks were compiled by the Glimmers and Olivier Tjon, who started the parties in an effort to contrast with the house and techno parties of the time by mixing a variety of musical styles together. The compilation reflects that eclectic goal combining various types and eras of music marking the tenth anniversary of the party.
Contents
Reception
Steven Hammond writes that the album is "a schizophrenic collage of styles and artists" and the reason it "works is because it is produced as a dance mix with seamless transitions between each song" but goes on to warn listeners that "a CD that mashes together extremely different genres of music could sound like one giant headache". Michaelangelo Matos called it the compilation of 2008, saying it "speaks to the present" "without succumbing to retro cute or wedding-DJ cheesiness" calling the track list "a smart collector’s want list". Rick Anderson refers to the compilation as "defiant eclecticism". Tony Ware calls the tracks "sonically engaging without being self-absorbed". The album has also been called "all-inclusive party celebrating dance music across all genres that doesn't discriminate" and "an endlessly playable party mix that ranges freely from the ’70s to the ’00s".
Cover art
The cover art has been listed as among the worst of the decade. The style is reminiscent of Patrick Nagel's work with Playboy, depicting a dead-eyed woman with a candy cane or barber's pole emerging from her mouth and wrapping all the way around the CD case. It has been called not "sexy or funny, just off-putting" and "horrible".
Songs
1Welcome to the PleasuredomeFrankie Goes To Hollywood1:06
2The Time Is NowMoloko4:49
3Il VelieroThe Chaplin Band4:14