Gangthology - Kool & The Gang

Advantages: Great Live recording and excellent tracks
Disadvantages: Final song fades out too soon

...I have a somewhat eclectic taste in music and it's not unusual to find Guns N Roses in my CD player at the same time as boy band music and cheesy 80's pop. I'm particularly fond of Soul, Motown & Funk with a healthy dollop of Disco thrown in. My latest addition to my CD collection, in the disco/funk feel at least, is The Kool & The Gang Collection and it was an absolute bargain at £2 from my local Somerfield store, it can also be found on Amazon for £5.99 new or from 59p Used. The Kool & The Gang Collection is a 13 track CD featuring all the bands biggest hits, recorded live in concert. It's a wonderful collection bought to life by the fact that it is recorded live, you get a real concert sound with none of the over produced instrument sound and no tweaked vocals that you would find on studio produced work, you are also treated... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Many famous songs
Disadvantages: Many of their best missed out

...This best of covers the period after Kool and the Gang changed their style drastically. Commercially, this meant higher sales, but musically they suffered. This album includes some of their most well known songs such as 'Celebration' , 'Tonight' and songs of a similar ilk to this. These songs sold extremly well and made kool & the gang a lot of money. However, they were one of the finnest funk groups of the early 1970's before they sold out. The sound of the music on here is very over produced and managed. Guitar sounds are trimmed and everything sounds like its been through a machine. All the raw quality has been lost. Previously, they made albums with a lot more punch, albums that could truely be called FUNK. This music was made to be popular and to sell. Its just a shame that what they had before, didn't do as well. Check out... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Fabulous baselines and storytellling lyrics
Disadvantages: Parental Advisory

...Quite simply the best hip-hop/rap album I have ever purchased. There really aren't many weak links on this double album, with full on lyrics from the start and quality beats and base lines this is funky from start to finish. A tale of ten years of Gang Starr, this goes through a range of tracks which gel together well, "Step Into the Arena" is a classic and "Just to get a rep" is a classic story telling track which just has to be heard. Guru's lyrics are polished, and backed by the mighty DJ Premier the quality of tunes they pumped out over a decade at the top of their game. This really is one album you should add to your collection. Forget the new rubbsish currently hitting the charts and go for something a little more classy.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful