(The) Very Best of Beethoven

Advantages: Eight Good tracks.
Disadvantages: Twenty naff tracks.

...) Fascination More of a dance type tune from HL, quite a strange offering, very new romantic, not for me. 4/10. 7.The Lebanon Love this, the philospohical side of new romance, I remember Spndau Ballet, Visage and OMD doing similar social conscience type tracks. 8/10. That is 5-2 as keepers 8.Life On Your Own 5-3, yuk. 2/10. 9.Together In Electric Dreams 5-4 From a film, can't remember which, anyway, not for me. 10.Louise 6-4. Oh yes, this is better, for me the best HL track of all, along with songs like the Streets (Dry your eyes) and Elvis Costello (I Want You), one of the all time classic 'break up' songs, the music is catchy and just fits and the vocals are a lament, morose yet joyful, pure brilliance 10/10. 11.Human Too accomplished, Duran Duran on hot chocolate, yuk. 1/10. My tally now stands at 6 keepers and 5 throwers, not... Read review

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Advantages: The best of Blacksteet
Disadvantages: Could have had a couple more?

...Released in 2003, Blacksteet had already been around a number of years but only had released 3 albums, all with mixed reviews. The main stay of this group is Teddy Riley is also known for writing songs for various artists including Michael Jackson and New Kids On the Block! Throughout the years, we've seen the line up change here and there with original member Dave Hollister going solo and other guys coming and going. The release of this album was in my eyes perfectly timed as a short while after this Teddy Riley went nuts, ok not actually mad, but his writing and musical style changed considerably to fit in with the Timbalands and Pharrells of thie world. His experimenting in production took a turn for the worst and this cd really does capture Blackstreet when they were at their best, r&b,coming out the end of the new jack swing era... Read review

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Advantages: Smokie at their best
Disadvantages: Absolutely none

...and much reflection Smokie recruited singer Mike Craft and Smokie were back on the road.Craft,without doubt the one with the best vocal ability of of the 3 lead vocalists was an instant hit with the fans ,his ability to make any song his own brought Smokie back to the top of the charts and returned Smokie to the peak of popularity in Europe and Scandinavia They have never stopped touring since. After 30 years they decided to cover songs that a lot of people mistakingly thought were done by them originally.It was bound to be an interesting project to work on and the finished product did not leave me dissappionted. My first thought on this album was the fact that their greatest hits had been re-recorded and re-mixed and came with this presentation but the covers disc was very interesting indeed. When a band covers another artists song... Read review

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