Remixed & Revisited - Critical Response

Critical Response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
About.com
Allmusic
Billboard (positive)
Boston Herald
Daily Breeze
The Malay Mail (positive)
Rolling Stone

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic felt that the presence of a "strong hook and a strong sense of fun" was missing from the compilation, except for the song "Your Honesty", which he declared as the best track despite feeling its beats to be a little outdated. He compared the work of the remixers as "as subtle as a jackhammer, whether it's on the metallic-flaked "American Life" by Headcleanr or the '90s-retro Nevins mix of "Nothing Fails". On all these mixes, Madonna sounds as if she's out of step with the music of 2003". Erlewine also compared Spears' vocals with that of Madonna's during her early days and Aguilera's with that of Cher's. Nathan Brackett of Rolling Stone commented that the release "improves upon American Life's standout single "Love Profusion", but the rest botches an opportunity to revive interest on its parent album". Fabian from Daily Breeze commented that Remixed & Revisited "is an amusing collection of novelties." Sarah Crompton from Boston Herald proclaimed the album to be "more fun than her full-length 2003 offering American Life." The Malay Mail said that the remixes from the album are for "true blue Madonna fans."

Jason Shawhan of About.com compared the overall feel of the compilation with that of "a toe being dipped into a bathtub to ascertain temperature"; he was not impressed with the remixes of the songs "American Life", "Love Profusion", and "Nobody Knows Me". The remix of "Nothing Fails" was complemented and was described as "a mutant disco/rock/gospel hybrid that sounds as fresh and relevatory musically as the initial Madonna/Mirwais collaboration on "Music" years ago". He also called "Your Honesty" an interesting outtake. Keith Caulfield of Billboard was impressed with "Your Honesty" and the remixes of "Love Profusion" and "Nobody Knows Me". He said, "Die-hard fans, even those unenamored of American Life will dig this EP." In his book The Essential Rock Discography, Martin Charles Strong called the release as "equally dispensible as its parent album".

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