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T R I E D & T E S T E D |
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R & B Hits
The UK charts is filled with R and B at the moment and for your listening delight - Out now is R & B hits. Probably one of the hottest compilations on the market at the moment, features tracks from the biggest acts around - and not just the big US stars - UK acts such as Craid David, Mis-teeq, Gabrielle and The Lighthouse Family make an appearence among their illustrious US counterparts.
Just pop the cd in, and the your nights music is complete. Other acts that
are featured include Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Pink and Mary J Blige.
R & B Hits is out now
4/5
With rock music continuing to take on the mainstream and win Kerrang!
release a monster 38 –want to piss off your mum and dad? The this is the
album for you. 3/5
The Tidy Boys Annual When I heard that the Tidy Boys were to release a hard house compilation CD I was a bit apprehensive as at the moment the hard house scene is saturated with 'The Best Hard House Ever' type CD's that are produced soley to make money and in no way progress the scene that they fail to represent. However as soon as it fell through the letterbox it was easy to see that this would be no ordinary compilation. The cover is a cartoon of the Tidy Boys in a very untidy state and inside the Cd case there is a great little book of information about the Tidy Boys as well as some fun little games for you all to play in the car on the way back from Sundissential!! Well to the main part of the Annual - The Music. This CD contains a great mixture of some old and very upfront tracks such as OD404's 9 Bar and forthcoming on Tidy Trax 'Go Back' by Ewok. There are a large number of Tidy Trax records represented but that was to be expected. The compilation is very well mixed together to produce an overall wicked compilation. Without a doubt this is the best Hard House compilation that i have seen as it represents the Hard House scene as a whole and it offers a little bit more to all of the tidy boys and tidy girls that continue to stomp to hard house. 5/5 Paul Brtschitsch - Venex (Frisbee
Tracks) 2PAC – Until the End of time Until the end of time is a superb double CD from dead rapper Tupac Shakur. 5 years after his premature death, this album gets a release – yet the tracks feel as fresh as any others on the current rap playlists. Ferocious rhymes, huge beats and superb production are all evident in an album written and performed by 2PAC in the year after his release from prison. Stand out tracks include ‘Letter to my unborn’, ‘The last one left’ and ‘All Out’ not forgetting the pristine ‘Thug n u thug n me’ featuring Kci & Jo Jo The whole package is a definite return to form for 2PAC and a true testament to his legacy. 3.5/5
Westwood – The AlbumA new compilation from one of hip hop’s most notorious DJ’s. Combining the talents of commercial rap and hip hop with the lesser known underground acts such as Crooklyn Clan – this album is packed from start to finish with some superb music. Ja Rule features with ‘Between me and U’ not to mention heart stopper ‘Eminem’ with his hit ‘The Way I Am’ – the album is also impressive in bringing us fresh new tracks from lesser know acts such as Crooklyn Clan – who have recently bootlegged Dr Dre ‘The Next Episode’ and made their own track ‘Lets get ill’. The opening introduction to the first CD is classic and never fails to bring a smile to my face, Tim Westwood – The Man, the Mystery, The Legend! 4/5 Exit Wounds – The Album Sugababes – Run for
Cover T-Boz – My Getaway Released 2nd April, this track is a great debut from the TLC member. Laid back and airy, doesn’t really fail to entertain. Taken from the soundtrack to the new ‘Rugrats in Paris Movie’, with enough radio play and promotion this track could definitely make Top 20. Maybe not as strong as TLC previous material, but nevertheless a great track 3/5 3 Amigos single For many months this was only known as the backing to Chris Moyles’ banter, but it is destined for huge success as it is released on ………. Catchy, quirky and definitely one for the summer, this song will have singing it all the way to the beach – perhaps should have held on for a later release but never the less – a quirky number! 2.5/5 Club Mix 2001 - Various A hot mix of some of the best clubbing tracks from the last few months. This album certainly succeeds in bringing together perhaps some of the more diverse clubbing tracks, merging house, trance and a bit of garage all into one. Best tracks on the album are probably Rui Da Silva, Santos, Warrior and David Morales. If you’re big on dance music, then this is definitely an album for you. OUT NOW! 4/5
Kiss Smooth Grooves 2001 Kiss never fail to supply what
tantalises the taste buds of many an R n B fan. Smooth Grooves 2001 is
packed from start to end with some of the hottest tunes from the world of
Garage, R n B and Rap; artists such as Nelly, Eminem, Shaggy, Genius Cru,
Mystikal and Jay-Z make up perhaps one of the best thought out and
eclectic mix CD's thats probably ever been attempted. You definately can't
fault this album, as it seems to cater for everyone, however perhaps the
one and only downfall is the ages of the tracks - there are enough new
tracks on here to keep you listening, but what about putting Eminems 'Real
Slim Shady' on a CD to be released in March when Eminem released that
around August / September, Yet, having said that, the old tracks never
fail to please - My suggestion is that you rush away from what you're
doing at the moment and go out and buy a copy, because if you're an R n B
/ Garage / Rap fan that does'nt own this - Then I doubt you're even likely
to know your Boom Selecta from your Rewinds 5 / 5 Sundissential - The Album Well, I am a follower of the Sundissential sound and I have been for some years now, so I was happy to see that they had released a compilation CD of the tracks that have created the groove in the club over the past few years. It is mixed by Paul Kershaw and Nick Rafferty, so I was expecting something good and I can not fault their mixing. It is the choice of tracks that has let me down. Why is the Paul Kershaw CD full of trance? Do they play trance at Sundissential - NO. The second CD on the other hand has some quality hard house tracks that have been canned in the club over the past few years and these all deserve to be on a hard house compilation. 1.5/5
Kevin and Perry Go Large OST
If you've not seen the film then you don't know what you're in for. LARGE is one term that could be used to describe this album, and boy does it live up to its name. If you have seen the film then you will recognise all of these tracks, as they're all featured on there, but with music from Southside Spinners and Yomanda, this album is guaranted to be one of the essential clubbing CD's of the summer. Definately worth a listen!!
4/5 Trance Nation 3 - Mixed by Ferry Corsten (System F)
Well, another Trance album from the masters of Ministry of Sound and once again, we're not disappointed. Featuring tunes from Chicane, Fragma, Starparty and lots more, this album is full of todays and future dance hits. Expertly mixed by System F's Ferry Corsten, the album doesn't disappoint. Nowadays with so many dance albums about, it's hard to stay ahead of the rest, but MoS pull it off magnificently. One huge tune featured is Angelic with It's My Turn, Angelic being Judge Jules and vocals provided by his wife, you can be guaranted that this will be a big summer smash. Go out and buy it now!
4.5/5
Dubstar - Make it better
Dubstar you say? I know them. Well thats right, the return single from the lost 90's band is a mixture of clean cut guitar and washy lyrics. The song itself certainly grows on you, but it's not Top 10 material. This is more likely to stroll in at a creditable Top 30 Position. Not due to the song, the song could suit anyones tastes but if the kids don't like it, then you're in trouble. Overall the song's okay, not sure about the verses. Too wishy washy. OUT MAY SOON!
2.5/5 Stella Browne - Every woman needs love
The cover of this CD tells us what to expect from the music, but a woman munching on an ice lolly isn't going to make this record any different than any other. Quite simply its on the same sort of lines as many other of last years big hit singles, except it hasn't progressed anywhere. The strings in the backing mixed with the repetitive and pointless vocals don't fair too well at all. Last year would have been better timing! OUT MAY 8TH!!
2/5
Garage Flava - Mixed by DJ EZ
Superb garage tunes mixed by king of Garage DJ EZ. Tunes featured include material by Another Level and N 'n' G. Expertly mixed by EZ, this album showcases some of the hottest new garage talent about. Instead of listening to the commercial rubbish thats being fed out at the moment, go buy this album and find out whats hot. OUT NOW!!!
5/5 Various Artists - Dance Nation (MoS)
Ministry of Sound release an album, definitely in praise of our website......well maybe not. This is the latest mix CD from those ravers down at MoS, with CD 1 mixed by Brandon 'BRITS 2000' Block and Tall Paul. Featuring some of the hottest tunes around at the moment, this album is packed full of hits including Moloko, Artful Dodger, Ralph Fridge and the soon to be massive A9. One assertion is that if you want to know what will be hot within the next few weeks / months, then you should buy one of their mix CD's, because they are the definitive guide for any clubber. One downfall is that in some ways this album is a little more commercial because it does feature acts such as Moloko and Artful Dodger, where as instead they could be featuring new talent, but having said that, the obvious commercial constraints are there. All in all, this album is a superb warm-up to the Ibiza albums that will be hitting the shops within the next few months. If you don't get this album, you'll be lost! OUT NOW!!! 4.5/5
Trevor Nelson - Rhythm Nation
Not content with conquering the radio and television worlds, good old trevor releases this album full of superb r 'n' b tunes. CD 1 is apparently for the bump and CD 2 for the grind. Both come complete with some classic r 'n' b tunes. CD 1 features R Kelly, Destiny's Child, Nas, A+, Jennifer Lopez and 702, and CD 2 features Another Level, Gabrielle, Dru Hill and DMX. The CD itself is actually a mix CD and you do find that they enter the tracks a minute or so into, another disappointment is the lack of fresh material featured. If you're an r 'n' b fan and regular listener to Trevors radio show, then chances are that these tracks will do nothing more than bore you, because many of them are so old. However, on a commercial level, the album is brilliant because it captures the vibe of r 'n' b at its best. Definately one for the kids and perhaps not for the hardcore r 'n' b lovers. OUT NOW!!! 4/5
Cypress Hill - (Rap) Superstar
This is the first outing from dope smoking Cypress Hill, and thankfully its back on the same sort of level as previous material. Featuring interviews from Eminem and Noreaga, this features hard beats and some superb rapping. The single is based on their own experiences of being rap superstars 'You've gotta look over your shoulder constantly........Don't trust nobody' Taken from the forthcoming album Skull and Bones, this track is simply a pleasure to listen to. Maybe it won't be a success in the charts, but what do little kids know about music? OUT NOW!!! 4/5
Futurasound - Call my Name
The debut release from Futurasound is a joyous blend of progressive house and trance. The track is a postmodern union of ambient influences fuelled by a spacey, trance beats, complimented by there seremce vocals of Rachel Ayers and multi-layered hypnotic rhythms. Having read the press release (extracts above), I expected more, however I was disappointed to find this CD to be all about the place. You never really know where you are with this track. Disappointing
Released 24th April
2/5 Shola Ama - Imagine
Imagine is the second offering from Shola Ama's superb album 'In Return'. Following the rousing gospel-tinged single 'Still Believe', the immaculate 'Imagine' is another classic example of why Shola is universally regarded as one of Britains leading female stars. This track was co-written and produced by the hugely espected Rodney Jerkins (Brandy, Mary J Blige). Definately going to be a big hit, this track is superb Out Now!!!!
3.5/5 |
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