Explosive: The Best of Bond [DualDisc]

Disc 1
1	Victory Mike Batt Mix 3:25
2	Explosive 3:10
3	Fuego 2:59
4	Viva! 3:15
5	Shine Dubshakra Mix 3:57
6	Wintersun 3:27
7	Scorchio 3:31
8	Duel 4:14
9	Gypsy Rhapsody 3:36
10	Caravan previously unreleased 3:45
11	Sugarplum previously unreleased 2:21
12	Carmina previously unreleased 4:20
Disc 2
1	Victory ... Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound / Mix
2	Explosive 48KHZ/16 Bit ... / Multimedia Track
3	Fuego 48KHZ/16 Bit PCM ... / Multimedia Track
4	Viva! 48KHZ/16 Bit PCM ... / Multimedia Track
5	Shine [48kHz
6	Wintersun 48KHZ/16 Bit ... / Multimedia Track
7	Scorchio 48KHZ/16 Bit ... / Multimedia Track
8	Duel 48KHZ/16 Bit PCM Stereo / Multimedia Track
9	Gypsy Rhapsody 48KHZ/16 ... / Multimedia Track
10	Caravan previously unreleased / 48KHZ/16 Bit PCM ... / Multimedia Track
11	Sugarplum previously unreleased / 48KHZ/16 Bit ... / Multimedia Track
12	Carmina previously unreleased / 48KHZ/16 Bit PCM ... / Multimedia Track
13	Explosive DVD
14	Fuego DVD
15	Victory DVD
16	Photo Gallery DVD
17	Discography DVD

Barnes & Noble

If the women of crossover string quartet Bond have anything to say about it, the classical music of the 21st century will never sound -- or look -- the same again. Ever since releasing their danceable debut, Born, in 2001, they've been shaking up the music world with their fresh and exuberant approach, augmenting their sound with techno beats, sitar, Spanish guitar, and full orchestra, and always sounding larger than life. If you've been resisting Bond's charms so far, Explosive is the album for you. It's impossible not to smile -- and start tapping your feet -- when you hear what they've done with bits of Rossini (the Barber of Seville overture on "Victory") or Vivaldi (The Four Seasons on the irrepressible "Viva"). There's enough new material here to make it a must for Bond's diehard fans, too. Taking highlights from the group's first three releases and adding in two songs in previously unreleased versions, the set concludes with three brand-new tracks, and the dual-disc package also offers a DVD of videos showing the fab foursome in action. In fact, the three new songs are among the group's finest moments, especially the Nutcracker spin-off "Sugar Plum," which plays with glitchy electronica in one of their most clever arrangements yet. Add in the jazzy "Caravan" and the ominous "Carmina," and it seems Bond have enough tricks up their sleeves -- make that sleeveless gowns -- to keep on exploding the pop/classical boundary for a long time to come. Scott Paulin

All Music Guide

Explosive gathers 12 highlights from Bond's three studio albums. It also includes the previously unreleased "Carmina," "Caravan," and "Sugar Plum." It's kind of a strange time for the U.K. quartet to put out a collection like this. For one thing, discounting the new material, it's relatively brief. On the other hand, Explosive might be a way for Bond to further establish their slick amalgam of classical instrumentation, worldbeat, and dance music flourish. In that sense Explosive is a primer, a guidebook, a showcase; for Bond's established fans, it's a succinct album survey with the incentive of bonus content. Released in DualDisc format, the set includes music videos for the title track, "Victory," and "Fuego," as well as a photo gallery and the entire album in 5.1 Surround Sound. As usual, in the artwork and photography Bond have refused to be staid or classical. Explosive features Haylie Ecker, Eos Chater, Tania Davis, and Gay-Yee Westerhoff dressed to the hilt and surrounded by vibrant flora. As they've always done, particularly with 2003's Classified, the quartet stands boldly behind its style, no matter the naysayers. Of course, the usual criticisms do apply. Pieces like "Duel," "Viva!," and "Caravan" move well. But their gleaming intersection of flighty chamber instruments and relentlessly jaunty electronics tries so hard to be irrepressible that it can have the opposite effect. When that happens, Bond's music ends up at the border between the ultramodern and sounds for the background. (Much of Explosive would be perfect scene-setting music for the arrival of Lara Croft or a certain gentleman spy in some far-flung urban locale.) But Bond fans don't struggle with these questions of validity, and for them (or the casual, curious listener) Explosive is a worthy pickup. Johnny Loftus