All Or Nothing
The latest waxman to ride the "artist album" train, Christopher Lawrence sticks to his guns onAll or Nothing, translating his usual up vibe into the studio with kinetic intensity. Lawrence has been the leading American DJ in the world for some time now, and high-energy records are exactly what have put him in that position. His mixes don't slow down for the darker contemplation of aDigweed, or the kitchen-sink sound layers ofFatboy Slimand his ilk. OnNothing, Lawrence the producer has the same approach as Lawrence the DJ: Drive and momentum rule. Clips like "Hot Rod" take off and keep taking off in a rush of glowstick-ready trance candy. There's never much of a break, so unless you're at a club, bathed in strobe lights and sweat, fatigue sets in before the disc ends. But if you're looking to bump your house party to another level, or just a post-work Friday pick-me-up,Nothingwill make it happen. --Matthew Cooke