Dance purists criticize Paul Oakenfold's new album, A Lively Mind, for its rock-heavy productions.

But Oakenfold, a 42-year-old British DJ and producer, says he expects to hear criticism.

"Look, not everyone is going to like the record, are they? That's understandable. You have a lot of purists that don't want you to mix guitars with electronic music, but I don't care, really," he says. "Dance purists don't like anything that's slightly commercial, or anything that's away from the norm, and this record is."

As he puts it, A Lively Mind has Hollywood written all over it.

An album of original works, it features collaborations with various artists, from unknown L.A. street musicians to starlet Brittany Murphy, who lends her sex-kitten vocals to the all-night party track "Faster Kill Pussycat."

"Yeah, there are a few names on it," says Oakenfold, adding Grandmaster Flash and Pharrell Williams to his list of famous guests. Oakenfold himself provides a vocal or two. "But everyone else was unknown because I really wanted to work with new talent."

The artists showcased on A Lively Mind were discovered by Oakenfold while hitting bars, clubs, even coffeehouses around Los Angeles.

"Spitfire was playing outside Starbucks in Malibu," says Oakenfold, who has done more than any other DJ to bring dance music into the mainstream. "He was just standing there, playing his guitar, singing and giving CDs out."

Along with Spitfire, Oakenfold invited Ryan Tedder and the Bad Apples into the studio to cut several tracks.

Depending on how well the album does, he says, he could be taking his finds along when he next tours with his band.

But right now, Oakenfold is in the midst of a whirlwind DJ tour. He plans on spinning some songs off the new album, despite the criticism.

He always does.

"I think the point that people miss is you have to move forward," Oakenfold says. "No one wants to hear the same old album -- and certainly not me because I'd rather not make an album than make the same old thing. So get over it."