Granted, Tiësto knows his way around a beat, and that's a good thing, since rigorous rhythms prevent efforts such as "Ancient History" from tumbling into overt pomposity. But all too often, he seems jealous of Vangelis and tries too hard to produce his own Chariots of Fire. For instance, "Athena" is dragged down by a self-consciously tony middle section that grasps for greatness but settles for schlock, while "Victorious" vacillates between a killer groove and synthetic inserts whose attempts to soar seldom get off the ground.
This ode to athletes may have finished first in Greece, but on the dance floor, it winds up in the middle of the pack. -- Michael Roberts
