The Strictly the Best franchise continues to exercise its marketplace prerogative with this interesting DJ compilation that features such reliable talents as
Capleton,
Buju Banton, and
Bounty Killer as well as up-and-comers like
Sean Paul and new star
Wayne Marshall (whose "Party Time" rhythm was already taking Jamaica by storm when this compilation was released). The thematic mix is nice, ranging from
Sean Paul's vaguely slack party anthem "Like Glue" to the stern "fire bun" rhetoric of
Capleton's "Tek It Off" (not to mention
Sizzla's strange "Come On," which somehow manages in the same breath to celebrate both dancing with hot girls and burning down Babylon). One of the weirdest tracks comes courtesy of
Elephant Man, whose "Tallup Tallup" alternates between slamming dancehall and a snippet of orchestral Baroque music (with which he sings along).
Elephant Man also contributes the screechily operatic "Higher Level," which is less successful. But apart from
Warrior King's out-of-tune "Jah Is Always There," "Higher Level" is about the only misstep on this solid collection. ~ Rick Anderson