Maximum Bass Vol.1 (Mixed By DJ Richie Don) - Various Artists > Reviews > M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-Mental

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Mixture of genres
Disadvantages:	aged content

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

DJ Richie Don: Not a name I've heard before, but that's not really the issue here. Kicking off with hip-hop, You Can Do It by Ice Cube, the album progresses through four genres of dance, sectioned off and compiled. I have noticed that the bass is emphasised, so this is a must for anyone who likes hip-hop / drum'n'bass / garage / or house and has an ICE system in their car.
The main thing I like about this album is the fact that Richie Don mixes Chopper into Super Sharp Shooter exactly the way I like it done. As SSS draws to an end, you can just hear the sound of rotor blades in the background, getting faster and faster, until there is the familiar helicopter whirr. SSS finishes at the precise moment when the announcer breaks in with "Ladies and gentlemen etc..."
Some clean cutting and mixing from Richie Don makes this album one of my favorites in my collection. Also featuring a cameo appearance by UK Apachi to introduce Original Nuttah (Shy FX ft UK Apachi), this album really does deliver some of the greates tracks of the four genres it covers.

In the Hip-hop section we have the likes of:
Ice Cube - You Can Do It
Khia - My Neck, My Back (lick it) **explicit**
Punjabi MC - Mundian To Bach Ke
Snoop Dogg - What's My Name
Tupac & Dre - California Love

Drum' n'Bass tracks include:
Shy FX ft UK Apachi - Original Nuttah
Q Project - Champion Sound
Ganja Kru - Super Sharp Shooter
Ray Keith - Chopper

One of the Drum'n'Bass tracks actually features the voice of Mike Reid, also known as Frank Butcher

Garage
Dizzee Rascal - I Love You
So Solid - Sentimental Things
DJ Zinc - 138 Trek

House
Zombie Nation - Kernkraft
Darude - Sandstorm
Operation Blade (from the film)

All in all, this album does have considerable value for money, and its follow up album, Maximum Bass 2, although lacking a bit in the great DJ department, has the track selection to make up for it. Basically, if you like these genres, this album is a must have. But, Maximum Bass is missing something (not sure what), that Maximum Bass 2 compensates for. It's good to have one, but it's not good to have one with out the other.