Similar to Keoki's earlier album for Moonshine, Ego Trip (1997), Jealousy features songs written by fellow Moonshine artist Dave Audé yet is marketed as a Keoki album. Much changed in the four-year sabbatical that separates these two albums. Ego Trip dropped around the time electronica was being promoted as the "next big thing" -- around the time album artists like Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers were in vogue. However, in 2001 things were different -- the hoopla had simmered. Keoki, a self-tagged "superstar DJ" -- and an album artist much like the aforementioned artists -- had to essentially recreate himself, particularly since much of his audience had outgrown him or forgotten about him. So it's not exactly a surprise to see Keoki doing something as audacious as covering Frankie Goes to Hollywood's infamous "Relax." It's not a particularly inventive version of the song, but it does serve as a revealing way to view this album: throughout Jealousy, Keoki is playing the role of pop/rock star, a sort of David Bowie character for the post-electronica age. Many of these songs feature his vocals, and he does his best to make the music accessible and well-anchored within the already well-established pop/rock tradition. Therefore, if you appreciate pop/rock-style electronica like Prodigy or BT, there's a good chance you'll find something here to savor. Even if it's a departure from his past work, Jealousy does find Keoki moving forward and trying new things, for better or worse. [A bonus disc includes two remixes each of "Pass It On," "Jealousy," and "Relax."]
© Jason Birchmeier /TiVo