Holden* - The Idiots Are Winning

An excellent piece of work from Holden, including many works far from what we would expect from this progressive house artist. While many of us would have liked to see his earlier works compiled into an album, this release far outdoes what any such album could have done in that it's so complex and coherent that the whole album feels like one big piece of art. Very IDMish, and extremely experimental, but Holden's talent for production shines. Recommended.

One of the best electronic albums yet. It breaks boundaries and creates something truly unique. A master piece, a true musical composition. I think Holden deserves praise for this album...Consequently I find it strange that its being criticized by people for being too experimental and what not. Is this not what electronic music is originally about?

The only ways for things to improve is by testing the limits. This album does just that and the result is some of the best melodies I have heard yet.

A must have.

There are pieces that shine brightly but overall, Holden's first studio album feels unfinished and almost disappointing (although still better than 90% of the electronic music out there today). Holden has so much talent, evident on tracks such as "Lump" and "10101" but there seems to be a little too much "filler" which is only mildly interesting. Another common critique is the length of the album. Clocking in at barely 40 minutes in length, "The Idiots Are Winning" is much shorter than your average electronic studio album. I think this album would have received better reviews (and sales) if James had removed the more experimental tracks and left it as an EP, perhaps with a couple remix/versions of older songs of his. In summary, there are a few AMAZING tracks on this album, certainly worth the purchase, but don't approach "The Idiots Are Winning" looking for an entire album of Holden's trademark genius because you will likely leave unsatisfied.

This LP has seperated people do to criticism. Some cannot hear it and reject it, and others love it more than anything. This is exactly the attention it deserves.
Yes it is different from "normal" dance music, but isn't that a step towards something new?
It remains fascinating how melancholy in music gives us such relief and satisfaction. I give Holden huge credit for creating something beautifully complex and inspiringly melodic. The fascinating melodies are very much the focus of these tracks.
No other artist has made me close my eyes during a song as often as James Holden has, in a moment of perfect and fullfilling sadness. It is listening music, yet dancable, and basically this should be recognized as a new genre. No wonder Stephan Bodzin's "Liebe Ist..." is being called "Post Holden".
Some like it and others don't, and that is good that way. It is different, and different is good. "The Idiots Are Winning" is a great step for electronic music.

I love it that people hate this album. It tells me that Holden is never going release something that has already been done before. That being said, this album is outstanding as expected. '10101', 'Corduroy', 'Idiot' and 'Lump' are all genius pieces of electronic sound, and really the only tracks that this album should be judged by. '10101' reminds me of a dark street in the early morning hours, splashed with a sudden downpour--a lone street lamp forming halos in the murk. Think 'Blade Runner'.

So, it seems that a lot of people are not into "The Idiots Are Winning." I find it to be an excellent musical achievement. Holden uses some brilliant sounds on this album, constructing simple but effective rhythms and deconstructing harmonies into their most base elements. The glitch and bastard beats may be a bit too much for progressive house heads to handle, methinks. The highlight of the album for me is the first track, "lump," which Damian Lazarus used on his "Suck my Deck" CD a few years back. I had been looking for that one for awhile. I think it's forward, different, and very fresh.

Given the brilliance in some of his remixes, I am more than just a little disappointed by this album. Although the sound is fresh and experimental, some of the tracks are less like music and more like a collection of noises that are frequently agitating; other tracks seem simply uninspired. This album is discordant symmetry at its finest. Corduroy is this album’s saving grace.

I find all of the tracks on this album very hard on the ear. The elements are off time, not in harmony. Its as if they intentionally made this way just for the sake of being weird. I've tried many times to listen to this with an open mind and I am consistently disappointed. I say this in all fairness...these tracks sound like a dj mixing 3 records together that have no business being mixed.

I'd love to sit down with someone that enjoys this album and have them point out the postive aspects of this type of music because I cannot hear it. I fear that people are kidding themselves when they say that they enjoy this...maybe because they want to feel like they are separated from people that like "normal" dance music? Maybe people like me are the "Idiots" that Holden is referring to with this album title. Oh well.

There are probably lots of people who have problems with the way Holden is developing his music further into progressive. But whether you're into minimal & progressive or still hoping for the Horizon/Nothing times to come back, there should be no doubt that the quality of the tracks on this album is extremely high. He trully is a master in creating music. Whatever style-genre it may be..