The Fat of the Land by Prodigy is a classic album. All the songs were very well done and a couple of them (mainly Firestarter, Smack My Bitch Up, and Breathe) were huge hits even in North America and were awarded MTV video awards. Here is what I rate the songs on Fat of the Land each out of 10.
Track 1: Smack My Bitch Up
9.5/10.
Classic electronic Europe techno song. Made a huge impact in North America as well. The music video was also very well done. "Change my picture, smack my bitch up." Classic line. Another part I like about the song is when the lady expresses her vocal talent with that cult skit. This beat is also great and at the beginning fires you up and shocks you out of no where with a big bang and beat. Classic song. 9.5 out of 10. I docked half a mark off because he repeats the same thing over and over. "Change my picture, smack my bitch up." He can say something different, but yet again that's what techno is like.
Track 2: Breathe
10/10
This is my favourite song on the album. It sounds mysterious and can be used on many thriller and sci-fi movie soundtracks such as The Matrix or a heist movie. This song was also a huge success in North America and won several MTV awards such as Viewer Choice 1997. I also like how Keith Flint uses crazy words and lines such as "Breathe the pressure" and "Psychosomatic, addict insane." This is a great song. 10 out of 10.
Track 3: Diesel Power featuring Kool Keith
7/10
Pretty good song. Kool Keith demonstrates his talent in techno rapping at the beginning. The chorus of the song is also very good "Blows your mind drastically, fantastically." The only part I don't like about this song is the beat. It doesn't match with the lyrics very well. But overall this song is cool.
Track 4: Funky ***
8.5/10
Awesome song. I like this song a lot. Except there is only one part in the whole song where they sing. That is why I docked one and a half marks from this song. But the beat is very good and makes you focus on it, not the singing. Overall this song is great if you like Prodigy's techno beats more than the singing.
Track 5: Serial Thrilla
6.5/10
Well, it's an okay song. One of the worst songs on the album though if you compare it to others. I hate the guitaring they tried to put with techno music. It just doesn't match. I however find the lyrics okay but not as good as the other lyrics on this album. "Serial Thrilla, Serial Killa." One good part of the lyrics is the beginning where Keith Flint says "Damage destructor, crowd disrupter." The lyrics sort of match one of the best songs on the album "Firestarter" but the beat certainly doesn't. Keith Flint also sings way to slow and it seems like he is trying to make the song more lenghty.The beat is boring and a guitar does not match well with techno/electronic music. Overall I wouldn't recommend this song to Prodigy fans.
Track 6: Mindfields
7/10
Pretty good song. I just sometimes in the song don't understand what Keith Flint is saying due to his British accent. The chorus of this song is messed and I could not understand. All of Prodigy's songs have great beats in them. The song however has the same problem as "Funky ***." It is a lenghty song and has hardly any times where Keith Flint sings in it. He rarely sings in it and says the same line about 10 times and that's the song. The beat is impressive though. 7 out of 10, good song.
Track 7: Narayan
4.5/10
This is definitely my least favourite song on this album. This isn't the type of music Prodigy sings or demonstrates. It sounds like they were trying to do some anime music. Some people may like it but I don't. I also hate how the song is so lenghthy and they start off with about a one to two minute anime sort of beat. The lyrics are the best part of the song however. Strong, powerful Prodigy lyrics, some of the best on the album. But if you mainly like the Prodigy beats more than Keith Flint's vocals then for this song you are out of luck. The beat sucks but the vocals are awesome. This is the worst song on the album.
Track 8: Firestarter
10/10
This is a sweet song! Definitely a song I recommend on this album. The opening line is one of the best lines from the album in my opinion. "I'm a firestarta, ***ing instigata!" Keith Flint really shows off his cool British accent in this song with his cool lyrics. Not only that but the beat is awesome. The song starts out like no other song on this album. What I mean by that is that it has the best start/intro of a song on Fat of the Land. Not only was the song awesome but so was the music video. The song was a success in North America and has been Prodigy's biggest single for a reason. The music video is one of the best videos of all time. VH1 said the music video for Firestarter by Prodigy is the 87th best music video of all time. The black and white and special effects for the music video are terrific. Two thumbs up. My favourite song on the album.
Track 9: Climbatize
7.5/10
It's a good song although it's instrumental the whole way. I would not recommend this song to anyone who enjoyed a song like "Firestarter" or "Breathe" but some one who rather liked "Funky ***." Keith Flint does not sing once on this song. However the beat is nice and funky. Great song if you like listening to Prodigy's awesome beats they make.
Track 10: Fuel My Fire
10/10
Great closing song. I like how Keith Flint sort of acts emo with this song and says in the chrous "People like you just fuel my fire, people like you just burn." It sounds like he was in the process of an argument and was mad. Keith Flint on this song was taking it Edgar Allen Poe style. The beat also matches the lyrics. This is one of my favourite songs on this album even though it got no airplay. Ten out of ten, two thumbs up. I suggest this to people who liked "Narayan" (lyrics only). Great lyrics and beat, perfect Prodigy song, two thumbs up, ten out of ten.
After this great album Prodigy didn't release an EP or LP until 2002 due to a motorcycle accident Keith Flint was involved in. But in 2004 they bounced back by releasing there final album before there greatest hits CD called Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned which is poor compared to Fat of the Land quality and success. Fat of the Land currently has sold 5 million worldwide making it Prodigy's top album up to date. Fat of the Land is Prodigy's best album and a great album I recommend to Chemical Brother fans.
