An ‘anthems’ disc with a difference – this one designed to pull in people who aren’t really R&B fans, with a clever bit of cross-marketing. Presumably those who hear tunes like Luther Vandross’ ‘Never Too Much’ and Joyce Sims’ ‘Come Into My Life’ on daytime commercial radio will plug in and enjoy the likes of Donell Jones’ ‘U Know What’s Up’ and Levert’s ‘Casanova’. It’s a pretty sound idea all told, with a strong cast including TLC, Brownstone and Aaliyah from the more obviously R&B side, while unexpected appearances are made from Wiley (wearing his Rolex, naturally), Sugababes (‘Overload’ a curious choice) and Vanilla Ice. Any compilation that doesn’t do the obvious thing is worth a second look, though seasoned fans will own a lot of this stuff already.
4 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
