Greasemania

Fame Academy - Soundtrack

Forced by my wife to endure another collection of programmes from BBC1's Fame Academy over the last week gave me the idea for this review. My wife is an avid reality TV watcher (and I have now ended up being as hooked as her), so it was no surprise when she bought this CD before the show ended a few months ago. At first, the critics panned the show, but it ended up hooking people in the same way that other shows have done. The album sold quite well (going gold), but I think to make people actually go out and buy and album for £10 or more they actually have to know that it will be full of great music, and as some of the contestants in this show had varying levels of singing ability that ...

Boom Selection Vol.2: The Essential Urban Soundtrack

What with the ‘urban’ compilation market flooding CD racks and having all their adverts being voiced-over by someone who probably cannot whisper without feeling the need to use a megaphone (‘THIS IS BOOOOOOOOOOM SELECTION!’), at least those behind the track-picking are in tune with what’s making the airwaves crackle. This is the second ‘essential urban soundtrack’ after all – well, until the next one comes round I imagine. Naturally this isn’t going to be a collection for those that think r&b and hip-hop can’t live together or that drum & bass (or jungle, if you’re still living in 1995) and UK garage are one of the ...

Huge Hits 2003: The Very Best Of The Hits Brand

First impressions of ?Huge Hits?? Well, I remember thinking that it?s a copycat compilation album that is possibly less good than others that are out there. The packaging really doesn?t add anything, being bland and unexciting. Indeed the name itself might just have been Cockney rhyming slang! However, repeat listening on the family?s shared ...