After Trainspotting became the surprise movie hit of 1996, there was a short-lived movement where people sort of recreated the elements of the movie for their own personal lifestyles. Guys wore soccer jerseys and tight jeans, listened to trance music and would pound their fists in the air at clubs when a ‘bangin’ track came on. The minor success of The Streets last year sadly revived some of these incidents. American men would get drunk and start rapping with British accents, incorporating their previous love for punk rock into the mix for some awful hodgepodge of cultures. I truly fear that this 21st Century Fix album from The House of Fix might inspire the same sort of madness in the hands of weaker individuals. This 2cd album is just screaming ‘Please Accept Me!!!’ with its fake 80s neon yellow and pink artwork. Drawings and pictures of the band members doesn't help add points to the originality scale either. With 37 tracks over 2 CDs, the album tends to be sprawling and varied. On "Darkweaver," a thick bassline and a simple melodic vocal sound exactly like Wire's "I am the Fly." It's actually an enjoyable rip-off if that was what the band was going for. On "Way Out," The House of Fix recreates the Beastie Boys’ Paul's Boutique-era with a fat bass sound and white rap to no effect. 21st Century Fix is ultra-British. On the rather aptly titled "Britskit," a Bobby Gillespie meets Liam Gallagher vocal yells over a warped house beat that drags on far too long to enjoy. Royal Blood's "Theresa Green," sounds like an old throwaway track from Massive Attack, distinctly British rapping over a downtempo beat. Taking cues from electro, big beat, house and that mix of punk and funk, The House of Fix never seem able to offer anything original and offer a ramshackle collection of uninspired tracks.
1. U.S.A. Pliance
2. Clipt Wings
3. Darkweaver
4. Way Out
5. Kit Wax
6. Britskit
7. Christopher Beam
8. This Is Ruckno
9. Mind Media
10. Desultory Sultory
11. Swaggering Bounder
12. Madonit
13. Freethought Psywave 3.4.K.M.
14. Warhow
15. My Everything
16. Test
17. AC/Ne
18. Rain Down
19. Puckafunk
20. What a Mess
21. Theresa Green
22. Cum Off Dis
23. Freeze
24. Got Ta Get
25. Laws of the Land, Pt. 1
26. Elecro
27. Better the Devil
28. Bolly Bosh
29. Monkey Chile
30. Sirkit
31. Strap-On Beaks
32. Beady Eye
33. Irritate No Face Glands
34. Blue Feather
35. Hear Me Shine
36. Rigmarole
37. Lovers They Come
1. U.S.A. Pliance
2. Clipt Wings
3. Darkweaver
4. Way Out
5. Kit Wax
6. Britskit
7. Christopher Beam
8. This Is Ruckno
9. Mind Media
10. Desultory Sultory
11. Swaggering Bounder
12. Madonit
13. Freethought Psywave 3.4.K.M
14. Warhow
15. My Everything
16. Test
17. AC/Ne
18. Rain Down
19. Puckafunk
20. What a Mess
21. Theresa Green
22. Cum Off Dis
23. Freeze
24. Got Ta Get
25. Laws of the Land, Pt. 1
26. Elecro
27. Better the Devil
28. Bolly Bosh
29. Monkey Chile
30. Sirkit
31. Strap-On Beaks
32. Beady Eye
33. Irritate No Face Glands
34. Blue Feather
35. Hear Me Shine
36. Rigmarole
37. Lovers They Come