Im In The Garage (Pure Garage Platinum - Very Best Of)

Member Name: benlepensive

Product:	Pure Garage Platinum - Very Best Of
Date:	18/09/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lots of tracks

Disadvantages: some fillers

I like a bit of garage music every now and then, inbetween my house, trance and cheesy pop. It is one of those genres which is perceived as cool. I am often wondering why garage music is seen as cool. Perhaps it is because there is an element of grime about it, which gives it a slightly dark and mysterious edge.

This is a three disc compilation, containing some of the biggest garage anthems in recent years. There are fifty tracks on this album and we get off to a good start with the MJ Cole's 'Sincere.' A mellow garage number with a strong vocal, which is soulful and curiously sincere.

Sweet Female Attitude sounds good thanks to some cut up vocals and a very anthemic chorus, which is more love song than anything else. Head next to the funky rhythm of Shy FX, 'Shake Ur Body' has a latino tinge about it and you can imagine it being played at a carnival.

CJ Bolland's 'Sugar Is Sweeter' is a dark and ruthless onslaught of tough beats and dirty basslines. The kind of song which belongs down a back alley somewhere. Something more lively can be found in 'Sambuca' as the Wideboys deliver a thunderous bass hook and plenty of naff lyrics about drinking and girls.

Some picks from disc two include 'Dooms Night' which is a slow burning melanchonic affair with a grimey bassline which keeps chugging away before it peaks and causes you to come over all faint.

'Imagine' by Shola Ama works well thanks to her sweet and soulful vocal turn, the mix keeps most of her vocal in place and she succeeds in bringing the lyrics to life with understated passion. On the subject of soulful vocals, dip into Kci and JoJo, where bright and fragrant vocals race through the track, while fervent beats keep the pace electric.

Disc three throws up some surprises, including a surprisingly trendy take on Liberty X's number one hit, which gives it some street cred. The ever reliable Artful Dodger turn in a funky number with 'Woman Trouble' which is given a boost by Robbie Craig's magnetic vocal.

I am less keen on 'Woah' by So Solid Crew which is too shouty and trying to sound tough for the sake of it. There are a few tracks you might not be familiar with, but 50 songs should give you enough to be going on with.

Summary: quite good