Top quality UK garage (It's All About The Stragglers - Artful Dodger)

Member Name: ajaybee

Product:	It's All About The Stragglers - Artful Dodger
Date:	07/04/01 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Polished and highly listenable album

Disadvantages: n/a

Artful Dodger's debut album 'It's All About The Stragglers' is a fine piece of work indeed. Whilst it's a garage album at heart, it clearly has pop/R&B sensibilities about it, ensuring it has the potential to reach a wide audience.

The five (count 'em) singles to have been released from the album should give you a reasonably accurate picture of what to expect here. Artful Dodger use a selection of different vocalists on each track - Michelle Escoffery, Craig David, Lynn Eden, Lifford, Nicole, Romina Johnson, Nadia and Robbie Craig all feature. One name surely stands out amongst them but all are excellent guest vocalists, and the effect this has is that it gives the album a varied feel, though a level of consistency is maintained because most of these vocalists contribute at least two tracks each.

1: THINK ABOUT ME (Feat Michelle Escoffery).
Fine yet subdued opener, though a strange choice for a single as it's not one of the most radio-friendly tracks on the album.

2: RE-REWIND (Feat Craig David).
This will go down in history as the track which launched the career of Craig David in 1999. The most club-orientated track on the album (along with RU Ready), and one of the defining tracks behind the explosion of garage into the top 40 charts (this track was nearly Xmas number 1 in 1999!).

3: OUTRAGEOUS (Feat Lynn Eden).
Not one of the best tracks, standard R&B/garage crossover tune.

4: PLEASE DON'T TURN ME ON (Feat Lifford).
Another single, and another fine track. Singer Lifford got a solo record deal on the back of his vocals on this track, a measure of Please Don't Turn Me On's quality. More of an R&B track if anything, about the challenges of resisting late-night temptation...

5: TWENTYFOURSEVEN (feat.Nicole).
Possibly the album's standout track, again a rather quiet, subdued track that goes against the tide of what most would describe as 'garage
'. Very sparse; definitely one for chilling out to rather than getting on the floor for.

6: SOMETHING (feat Lifford).
Lifford returns for this track, and whilst not as instantly impressive or memorable as Please Don't Turn Me On, it's still quality.

7: MOVING TOO FAST (feat Romina Johnson).
Big hit from summer last year, all plinky piano chords and catchy chorus, the makings of another garage classic. Romina's not got the best voice out of the gathered half-dozen here but it complements this simple yet funky tune quite nicely.

8: R U READY (feat MC Alistair).
Not great. Aimed straight for the clubs, with a bit of MCing over a standard garage beat. The album's weakest track by some distance.

9: I CAN'T GIVE IT UP (feat Nadia).
Quite a good track, again it pales in comparison with some of the stronger, more distinct tracks, but the production quality is superb as always.

10: WOMAN TROUBLE (feat Robbie Craig/Craig David).
Garage vocalist veteran Robbie Craig turns up on this track, which is included twice here in remixed and original formats. The added vocals of Craig David give the track a bit of an edge, but you can't doubt Robbie Craig's vocals here, extremely high quality. You've probably heard this, it was released in 2000, quite a big hit.

11: WHAT YOU GONNA DO? (feat Craig David).
Craig's 3rd appearance, and another fine track. One of the album's more pure-garage moments, yet one of those tracks that's equally listenable in a club or at home.

12: WE SHOULD GET TOGETHER (feat Nadia).
Quite good closing track, similar really to track 9.

...Phew! Basically then, don't buy It's All About The Stragglers expecting to find a garage album through-and-through, because it's a lot more varied than that. The leanings towards R&B are clearly apparent, especially in the Craig David and Lifford tracks. On the whole tho
ugh the album is extremely listenable, and great for relaxing to, surprisingly enough. Artful Dodger clearly know how to spot a good tune, and the quality of the production and vocalists here mean that by and large this is fantastic debut.

Summary: