House, R&B, Soul & Rap > S House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Soul > up to 5 GBP

Advantages: Combines old and newer hits
Disadvantages: oddly put together

...media. Edwin Starr The Essential Collection is just that, a collection of his biggest hits from his early Motown days to his later Disco/Funk efforts. While I appreciate the sounds of Motown it was one Disco track in particular that drew my attention to the CD and that is track 17 "H.A.P.P.Y Radio" it's a upbeat song with a great Disco beat and sing-a-long lyrics that will get you dancing along in much the same was as D.I.S.C.O and other such party ...
...understand that by compiling an essential collection that the various different musical styles and the best hits of the artist need to be included but it seems odd putting 2 of Starrs later tracks at the beginning and 1 at the end stuffing all his Motown style efforts in the middle, the album would have flowed far better by putting the later songs at the end allowing the listener to follow the changes and transitions as the tracks charted passing ... Read review

Advantages: The classic hits and some top notch album tracks
Disadvantages: The showbiz and MOR cover versions

...their first ever No.1 hit Where Did Our Love go. The Where Did Our Love Go album hosted a collection of their chart-toppers,a few minor hits from a time when they were referred to as "The No Hit Supremes" by fellow Motown colleagues (after having released nothing but a succession of flops and minor hits between 1961-63), B-Sides and a few would-be hits. The swirling, latin-inspired, mellow arrangements on the divine A Breath Taking Guy had been penned ...
...and focus for The Supremes where others most surprisingly such as smokey Robinson had failed. Containing an effective conga beat that generally had all the emphasis of that classic Tamla Motown sound, When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes carried a strong and an unusually assertive performance from the magical Diana Ross who was now the groups permanent lead singer. Though indeed a classic, the track enjoyed only marginal chart success, ... Read review

Advantages: A couple of good dance tunes
Disadvantages: Repetitive lines

"51/50 Ratchet" is the debut album from the Louisiana rapper Hurricane Chris. When this dropped, 2007, the musician was only eighteen years old, and to fit in with what is expected of young rappers, espcially ones from the Dirty South, he has come out with some 'ringtone rap' with his hit single "A Bay Bay and "The Hand Clap" which followed on from it. 1. "Getting Money" (feat. Nicole Wray) This track get the album off to a shaky start as it isn't ...
...have to say tha I expect it though because he basially summarises his life stroy to the lsitenr in order to make up a little introduction for you before getitng itno his music. This little contextual information can be overlooked though as it doesn't bring out anything out of the ordinary. **Two Stars** 2. "A Bay Bay" This is the big single from the album and as his debut, it manged to catapult him into fame at the start of 2007. From there the ... Read review

Advantages: street music!
Disadvantages: too much street music!

Having been a big fan of fifty cent when he first burst on to the scene, and also a big fan of G Unit, i have to be honest, my interest has waned of late thanks to a couple of mediocre releases and an attempted cross-over into more radio friendly music. With the release of G Unit's anticipated sophomore album, it gives us a chance to see whether they really have crossed over, or if they remain true to the streets which raised them. Starting with ...
...definitely get you to pick it up if you saw it in the store. The album opens with Straight Outta Southside - a supposed ode to Sean Bell who was shit by police, but it doesn't actually make any reference to him, apart from once! It seems to be a cover of straight outta compton by NWA, but is nowhere near as good, a definite miss to open the album! We then lurch into piano man and close to me, two decent songs but forgettable nonetheless. Finally ... Read review

Advantages: More varied than previous albums
Disadvantages: Concept seems to fade

"The Recession" is the third album from the hardcore Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy. The CTE leader Young Jeezy returns with yet another Gangsta Rap album, and follows on from hits such as "Go Getta", "My Hood" and "Soul Survivor" from previous records. To be honest, I have never liked Jeezy, however after hearing a couple of the tracks from this new release, I expected to hear him come with something less in-your-face than in previous ocassions. It ...
...of September 2008. 1. "The Recession" (Intro) 2. "Welcome Back" I don't really see why we need a track which has us welcome Jeezy back because his last album only came out in 2006, so it's not as if he's been away for that long. However, with this excuse to make a track, he is given a hard beat by DJ Squkey Clean, and has him perform some big raps to give you an idea as to why he is such a popular name on the hardcore rap scene. **Four Stars** ... Read review