Welcome to Top Of The Pops (Top Of The Pops '99 Vol.2)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Top Of The Pops '99 Vol.2
Date:	02/03/09 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good selections on the whole

Disadvantages: Strange ending.....

Despite the fact that compilations can quite often be a marketing ploy to get you to buy something that you actually don't need to, there is something distinctly magical about Top Of The Pops. Their 1999 compilation album featured a nice selection of some of the most fun music to have graced the floors of the legendary TV music show that is sadly no longer with us, and the result is a clever combination of hits on 2 discs.

The first disc has a curious combination, and isn't full of the most obvious choices, making it a typical Top Of The Pops whereby some of the tracks are a more insightful music decision as opposed to a popularity contest. It starts off boppy with Steps and Love's Got A Hold On My Heart, continuing with Shania Twain and then Alice Deejay. Not the most obvious combination of tracks, but it works well and sets up the rest of the disc quite well. I like Summer Son from Texas, an underrated song in my book, and the remaining tracks on the disc are mixed very well. Some are lesser known, such as Yomanda's Synth and Strings and Saltwater from Chicane, but S Club 7's Bring It All Back, Secret Smile from Semisonic (great track!) and, strangely, Adam Rickitt's Breathe Again, all fit well and are well known.

Disc 2 also has a good combination, woth Ronan Keating kicking it off with When You Say Nothing At All. Then comes a string of catchy and popular tunes from artists such as Westlife, Boyzone, Another Level, B*Witched and Honeyz, as the bands take over for a bit with the odd solo artist getting a look in every few tracks or so. Britney is in there with Sometimes and Billie gets a look in with Honey To The Bee, although I wasn't a fan of this track. I found this a very strong disc, although it actually tailed off towards the end instead of getting stronger. Pete Heller's Big Love and 3 Jays' Feeling It Too are recognisable to listen to, but in terms of name recognition, they aren't as strong as some of the others on here.

Overall, I was quite impressed by the careful selection of the majority of the tracks on here. Sure, there are some I wasn't a fan of, but it is as I always say with compilation albums - it is hard to please everyone, and compilations are set to give a good variation in style and popularity, aiming for a balanced set of music on one production. This is a decent offering, one I am glad to listen to. Recommended on the whole!

Summary: On the whole, a very enjoyable album from 1999