Various Artists - Strictly The Best 50 & 51 (VP Records)

Surprisingly enough 'Strictly The Best 50' doesn't contain a single track by an artist from the so-called "roots revival"; so no Chronixx, Protoje or Jesse Royal Protoje and that's at least a bit odd. Never mind though, as like every year this edition once again offers a mix of the hottest tunes of the past twelve months and a number of songs by relative newcomers. It's above all else these last tracks that year after year draw yours truly's attention. This year we have to mention 'Kingston Town' by Toian, a young singer from Montego Bay (not to be confused with veteran DJ Toyan), and the beautiful lovers tune 'Keep It Like It Is' by Aysha Loren (be it that this of course is a cover of a song by the late Louisa Marks), but the award for the most catchy song on this edition goes to Shuga, who with 'Ride De Riddim' does exactly what she's talking about, delivering a stunning version overs the Bobby Bobylon Riddim.
 
For 'Strictly The Best 51' VP Records collected a whole series of danceable dancehall hits. Play this disc at one of your New Year's Eve parties and you can be sure to fill the dance floor in no time. Busy Signal appears no less than three times and his tracks even follow on another in the track list: 'Money Flow' (a reworking of Eek-A-Mouse's 'Wa Do Dem'), 'Greetings' (a reworking of Half Pint's classic over the Heavenless Riddim) and the hyper-catchy dance anthem 'Professionally'. Mavado is also well represented, on the one hand with 'My Own' and on the other with 'Give It All to Me', his duet with Nicki Minaj. Two tracks that will definitely get the dancefloor going are 'Wet Fete' by Gyptian featuring Kes The Band and 'Shmoney Dance' by Elephant Man. Of course controversial artist Alkaline could not be missing from 2014 dancehall compilation and with 'Gyal Bruk Out' he earned his place in the track list. The most original track on this edition has to be Spice's 'Like A Man', in which the controversial deejay addresses her male colleagues about the gender inequality in the dancehall scene. Also the petulant 'Who Rule' by Latty J and Mr Vegas also has the battle of the sexes as its theme, albeit on a different level.
 
Enjoy this compilation, a happy new year from Reggae.be and see you in 2015!