Review

VARIOUS: PURE URBAN ESSENTIALS (Summer 2008)

'Pure Urban Essentials'... may not be so 'Pure Urban' with the likes of Madonna kicking off the proceedings, adding in a bit of Britney on the way and a drop of "Don't associate me with R&B" Santogold.

But I actually like this double album. I think it's that cheeky nature mixed with some well chosen tunes both new and not so new that makes this twin set worth the gate money. The mixes on a lot of the tracks I can live with to be honest, as they don't pretend to be anything they're not- Maybe it should be called the 'No Frills Essentials!?'

I'll name check a few so you can get a flavour, but it doesn't stop there as there is strength in depth here. If you haven't brought a tune in a while, then this will help you catch-up and more.

CD1 Wiley 'Rolex', Estelle 'American Boy', Alicia Keys 'No One' and Nelly Furtado 'Say It Right' still all sit nicely. Add Natty 'Cold Town', the inform Chris Brown 'Kiss Kiss' and even when they go off Piste with P.Diddy 'Last Ni', House Of Pain 'Jump Around' and Kelly Rowland's 'Work' you aren't tempted to press the fast forward button.

CD2 Goes slightly older in the tune ratio after coming out of the starting blocks with Ironik 'Stay With Me', the sublime Lupe Fiasco's 'Superstar' and as Usher signals with the next track 'Caught Up' - you catch up in style with some tunes you haven't herd in a while. With the likes of 'Wyclef 'Perfect Gentleman', Cassidy 'Hotel', R Kelly 'Ignition', Sean Paul 'We Be Burnin' to name a few (now you getting my drift?)

You can't fault this accumulation of solid good tunes Urban or otherwise. A must for all, as a compilation it stands out from the rest.
Words LEE TYLER