2009-07-04 -- 3/5:: Good, but not great.
Armin is among my favorite DJ/Musicians and I've been following him for four or five years now, picking up mixes, remixes and his artist albums along the way. If this album was being released by a new-to-the-scene DJ, I'd be impressed, but because it's Armin I'm underwhelmed. This is probably his weakest State of Trance compilation to date.

Disc one is actually quite good with a few nits to pick. It starts off just right (it seems like O'Callaghan can't make a bad piece of music these days) and maintains a steady mood and pace through out. It's a nice exercise in trance-styled EDM that's more laid back and less in your face. Outside of a few awkward breaks and and a questionable track or two, I was very happy with the first mix and looking forward to the second.

Unfortunately, disc two is very disappointing. I'm not sure if Armin phoned it in or what, but the track selection combined with the relatively lack luster mixing and beat/break/build just wasn't working. It may be that the relative death of hard trance is making it harder and harder to put together trance club records that don't have to dabble in progressive/electro house along with other genres of EDM. As a result of the dabbling the mood is broken up, and the whole mix feels inconsistent and frankly, uninteresting.

I tuned into his radio show this week in which he played a recorded set from Ibiza, and he sounded like he was in fine form, so I'm not sure what went wrong here. At the very least it leaves plenty of room for improvement next year. People looking for a better and more traditional trance mix would be wise to check out Solarstone's Electronic Architecture, which came out earlier this year.

2009-06-29 -- 5/5:: THANK YOU ARMIN TO CONTINUE GIVING TO US GREAT TRANCE !!!!
Hi Guys !!!
This CD is a Compilation of the upcoming tracks for 2009, you must hear, if you are waiting music from 2006 buy CDs from 2006, this CD is for 2009, BEST, FRESH, MELODIC TRANCE TRACKS !!!!
I recommend this CD because Armin is a lover music, and I follow Armin taste, because he is not Commercialm and he thinks in the fan, not like others DJs, Paul Van Dyk and Tiesto release productions only thinking in thier pockets, Armin gives to us MUSIC. Recommended !!!!

2009-06-28 -- 2/5:: too slow/boring
Armin is my favorite DJ (I know I am one of millions). He has been for years. I was really looking forward to this album, but I feel this album fell well short of my expectations because its goal seems focused more on showcasing new talent rather than creating a musical masterpiece like some of his his previous efforts have done. The track "Deep Down" by winter kills is an amazing tune. "Nothing at All" is also another great track and "Man on the Run" has some good parts. But I am pretty disappointed with most of the non-vocal tracks on both CDs and the second CD is pretty poor all around. John O'Callaghan makes a good effort with the beats in "Find Yourself Alone" but that hook line for the vocal makes me want to hit myself in the head every time she sings the word "You'll." This begins the second CD and it's made much worse by the fact that they were too lazy to select "SPLIT TRACKS INTO FILES" when making the CD so I can't even easily fast forward past it. That was pure laziness and moves like this are what cause fans to look for the better, split tracked, pirated version. And then the entire rest of the CD pretty much puts me to sleep. I've listened to it several times trying to give it another chance and always end with the same impression....boredom.

Maybe the Universal Religion live set will change my mind. However, after shelling out $90 for presales tickets to see Armin perform at the Cameo at WMC in March I was also somewhat disappointed. He ended the night by stalling for like 45 seconds between each track, and I ended up leaving his show early for the first time ever because I didn't have the energy to stand still anymore at 6 AM.

I am DEFINITELY looking forward to his artist album coming out in 2010 though. Imagine was great regardless of what Mr. Thomas B Wilson believes. Anyone living in Shreveport, Louisiana and claiming to be an authority on anything clearly has some insecurity issues. George Acosta ha! That guy was played out back in 2002. If you guys really want to hear the baddest release of the year, look around the intertube for a mix called Summer Solstice by Tim Silverline. I have no idea who this is, and it doesn't appear to be licensed since I can't find any information on him, but it's the best trance mix CD I have heard since ASOT 2007. I wish I could find someone like that playing live. If anyone has any info on him please comment back!

2009-06-22 -- 3/5:: A good compilation
I've been listening to ASOT 2009 for a few days now. I made sure of it before I wrote a review. Overall this is a very solid and respectable album with hot, fresh beats. It starts off a little slow with the first 3 songs on CD1, but then really picks up with the next 2 songs... Riddles in the Sand and Fractal Universe, which I love and could definitely be the best tracks on the entire album. I also love Miami Vibe and Nothing At All, which are also great tracks on CD1.

In my opinion CD2 also starts out a little slow. To me it is generally lackluster, with the first CD being much stronger. Noteworthy tracks on this CD2 are Sivan and Onyric. Overall both CD's pack a solid mix with some fresh beats just in time for Summer 2009. Would I say this is the best compilation? No, but who knows maybe with time it will grow on me even more. I would say that out of the entire album there are maybe 5 really good songs, the rest are just OK. Looking forward to Tiesto's ISOS8, but until then this is what I'll be listening to.

2009-06-22 -- 5/5:: THE TRACKS ARE DIVIDED UP
I don't know where that user downloaded his copy, but I purchased the CD and the tracks are definitely divided up. This album is arguably the best compilation CD to come out in years, and thats saying a lot since my favorite artist is Tiesto. ASOT 2009 should definitely seal the deal for the number 1 spot again for Armin, unless Tiesto's new album is any better.

Armin, keep up the amazing work and I'll keep purchasing.