Advantages: A brilliant collection of one of the greatest ever ska bands
Disadvantages: your own faveourites might be missing.

...The Selecter are one of the best, and yet understated Ska Bands of the late 70's and 80's. They have a unique sound that is quite different from other ska music that was around at the same time such as one of the most famous ska bands 'The Specials'. The Selecter combine the off-beat sound of two-tone ska with the unique and brilliant voice of Pauline Black to create a great outcome. If you have not heard of the sound of Ska it might be described as English Reggae, originating in coventry. Another famous Ska band are Madness. Up beat, happy and 'dancable'. The band have been inspirational to many famous modern artists such as Gwen Steffani, and were invited to tour with No Doubt as support. Basment Jaxx have also covered the famous hit 'On My Radio' as an album track. This album is a 'best of' collection and comrises of all... Read review

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Advantages: A few good tracks with nice jazz instrumentation.
Disadvantages: Boring acid loops. Clichéd rubbish.

...In 1998, Squarepusher would release one single album, probably his best alongside Ultravisitor (Warp Records, 2004), Music is Rotten One Note. During the first half of 1999, Tom Jenkinson would then release 3 more works; the first being his follow-up to M.I.R.O.N, Budakhan Mindphone, the second being his half-baked Ep, the Maximum Priest (Warp Records), and finally, he would release this album, Selection Sixteen. Selection Sixteen is, in my opinion, a flawed album; it could also be seen as a joke in which Tom would exorcise his dread of the ordinary and the clichéd, by reproducing it- but I think it could also be seen as a transition between his 1998-99 period and his latter works Go Plastic (Warp, 2001) and Do You Know Squarepusher? (Warp, 2002). Selection Sixteen has a running time of 46 minutes approx. and encompasses 17 tracks... Read review

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Advantages: see text
Disadvantages: see text

...and will be familiar to devotees of Bowie’s very early stuff (of which I am) when he was sometimes known as David Jones. In The Heat of The Morning is a splendid, almost psychedelic little ditty with all that faux significant lyrics that remind very much of Procul Harem or the Lovin’ Spoonful. The most impressive thing about this song is the strength of his Bowie’s voice that has a tremendous motown edge to it. London Bye Ta Ta This is a rather whimsical song in the mould of the Kinks, which a sprinkle of the Faces. Just a pleasing number about Swinging London. Karma Man Making full use of the 14 piece orchestra made available to him, Karma Man is song fully at home in this rather psychedelic selection. In an age of gurus and new spiritualism as extolled by the Beatles in particular this song is almost a parody of that and pokes... Read review

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Advantages: Stunning melodies, stunning lyrics, stunning voice and stunning guitars.
Disadvantages: There's not enough of it!

...get to know James Taylor. Highlights, selected with difficulty: Shower The People, Carolina In My Mind, Mexico, Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain, Up On The Roof.... Read review

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Advantages: Very atmospheric
Disadvantages: Purely background music

...Richard D James (AKA Aphex Twin) is a very varied musician. When compared to his previous work, and in fact his newest work, this is entirely different. I have recently lost respect for the artist and don't listen to his music as much as I once did, but still appreciate this album for what it is. A soundtrack to a really bad day. Most closely related to 'Selected Ambient Works 1' (Which is more musical) this package consists of 2 cd's packed with dark groaning bass, children's voices, moody synth, and hardly any sign of a beat. However this is by no means a bad thing. The album consists of 24 Untitled tracks, with only a small thumbnail picture in the sleeve to represent each individual composition, pictures from which not very much can be gained and definitely no clues to what the tracks might be called should they have titles... Read review

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Advantages: Great triple CD
Disadvantages: None

...to a track that uses funky, urgent music to create the impression of a train hurtling along the tracks. What kind of train? A freedom train, of course! Interesting, 'pleading' vocals, too. The second CD is, basically, more of the rather good same. If you'll pardon the expression! More of the rather good same, with the rather curious inclusion of a track by Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook. I mean? Afrobeat??? Fatboy Slim? As they used to say in Star Trek: "That does not compute!" His track, First Down, was the usual Fatboy Slim fare, rather like The Orb on cocoa. I doesn't really sit well with the rest of the tracks. Two other strange selections on the second CD are Booker T and the MGs with Melting Pot and Herbie Hancock with Wiggle Waggle, though I really can see the point of including these tracks, more so than using a piece by Fatboy Slim... Read review

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Advantages: Ground breaking endlessly fascinating music for gazing out of windows to
Disadvantages: Not one for fans of heavy metal or people who only like songs with words etc.

...Peverse genius, expert knob twiddler and all round music visionary Richard James has released many classic tunes of multiple styles over the years, yet this, remains among his best ever. Unlike Selected Ambient Works one, there are hardly any beats on this - and instead most of the tracks are a series of interesting trips through the echo chamber with some beautiful drones and tones to accompany you. Yet despite the minimalist nature of the sounds here, the production means that you rarely get bored of these sounds. Also because they are so distinctive, they haven't dated at all really. Evocative of Brian Eno's work on Ambient 4 and also Music for Films, simple chord progressions build a series of thumbnail sketches. The moods conjured range from euphoric and calming through to eerie, nocturnal and in one case downright... Read review

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Advantages: You might discover a gem
Disadvantages: Too many boring songs

...hand-picked and mixed by the professionals. Or can you? Please don't pick this up if you want a selection of hard hip-hop beats - while there is quite a lot of rap on this album, this isn't a 100% rap collection. It's a mixture of styles, incorporating R&B, ska and reggae. So, now we've got that out of the way, let's have a breakdown of everything Roots Manuva has in store for us... 1. Intro - Roots Manuva A far too long, rap-type poem thing by Roots Manuva over a chilled out beat. Very poor start to the album as it sounds like Manuva has had a few too many beers before putting lips to the microphone. Skip it, it's awful. <1 out of 5> 2. Priceless - Deckwrecka & MCD This sounds like the kind of thing Roots Manuva was trying to do on the track up there. Competent rapping over a funky but relaxed tune. Not very memorable... Read review

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Advantages: Great selection of tunes for under 5's
Disadvantages: Can be embarressing having Bob the Builder blaring full blast in your car

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Advantages: All the hits, plus two new tracks
Disadvantages: Misses out some truly amazing hits

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