Review of STRICTLY THE BEST, VOLS. 25 and 26

Sure, VP puts a huge marketing push behind each annual release in their {Reggae Gold} series, and they're usually among the best sellers, but one cannot overlook the longest-running reggae compilation series in the business: Strictly the Best. Started in the early 1990's, STB consistently has the most popular singles, be it roots, lovers, or dancehall. Now released in pairs, the series is up to parts 25 and 26, and the formula continues to work well.

Strictly the Best 25 is the dancehall-oriented compilatoin with all of the recognizable names: Elephant Man, Capleton, Sizzla, Beenie Man, etc. Capleton contributes the decent, but not outstanding, "Crazy Look" and "Hunt You." Beenie drops the fierce "Damm!!" and the less-impressive "Roll Deep." Sizzla's sole contribution is the ferocious, staccato "To the Point." And for the slackness-lovers is the "Punanny Medley," a pretty unimpressive collection of DJs chatting their standard slackness lyrics. Also included is Lexxus' "Full Hundred," Ward 21's surprisingly good "Ganja Smoke," and Mr. Vegas' "Girls Time."

Strictly the Best 26 deals with more roots/lovers-oriented singles. Some of the tracks fall flat, like Terry Linen's "That's the Way It Is" (which is surprising, because Terry's a talented singer), most of the cuts are solid, feel-good tracks. Among the best are Jr. Kelly's outstanding retro-dancehall "Love So Nice," the awesome Wayne Wonder-Buju Banton duet "Reunion," Half Pint's best single in years on Beres Hammond's Harmony House, "Just Be Good," and Freddie McGregor's quality "I See It In You." Packed with 16 tracks, this is one of the better entries in the series in recent years, also including tunes from Sanchez, Mikey Spice and Louie Culture, and Glen Washington.

As usual, Strictly the Best offers up something for everyone. While not every reggae fan will dig every track, the latest two entries in the STB series continue to have the far-reaching appeal that have made this the most enduring compilation series in the business.

For more information, visit http://www.vprecords.com/albums/1619stb25.html and http://www.vprecords.com/albums/1619stb26.html.

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