This would be another ten-out-of-ten slice of musical intelligence from Mr. Common Sense if it weren't for a certain tit called J Love. This is basically a Common Album with said "tit" pressing his jingles buttons throughout.

Be it "mixtape god/ JLove nigga/ JLove in the house/ JLove Exclusive (delete as applicable). It's ALL OVER the goddam cut!
I mean, he ain't even doing it in the breaks- it's all over com's lyrics! To me that's just goddam RUDE.

I understand the concept of a "mixtape", but this is a loooong way from that. This is like bad pirate radio & at no point is there any actual mixing/blending of the tracks...
At the end of track seven, there IS an attempt to fade into On My Way Home, but that's swiftly brought to an end & track eight begins.

This is a freaking embarrasment to the ever-reliable Common. Seriously- I would advise everybody to avoid this- instead, do some backtrackin' & go get yourself one of the previous albums- don't matter which one, they're ALL golden...

I couldn't agree more with Brother Izmo- "These Boys Are Special..."

I've been on them since release No.2 and the quality has remained throughout. Not just the quality of the grooves, but all aspects of each release. The artwork is clean & faultless, the wax solid & crisp with the absolute highest sound quality. The subbase oozes out of my speakers. Even the damn plain black card sleeves are a cut above...

My only gripe is that each release takes soooooooooo long coming. They are completely independant & as such, each pressing is a massive financial drain. Plus it don't help that they're such perfectionists! I was having a conversation with Homero waaay back about the original, ultra rare cut of "Summertime, Heart & Freedom" (ISR-1203). He was explaining how the run was halted at some really random number like 27 or something as they weren't 100% about it. I know a LOT of people who at that stage would have just said 'Screw it, let's just pump it out & make some money'

Not these guys...

It's been almost 18 months now since the "Articles Of Beautification EP"- hopefully we'll be getting our next 'fix' pretty damn soon!!!


There's a lotta love coming outta this Frisco outfit; and these cuts are definately for real connesseurs.

Much love, Homero. Lynchy, Loves 'ya!!!

This is pure strong-house vibes from Mr. Jeremy Sylvester with the highlight for me being Love Take Over. A looong, bumpy intro into one of those patented N'n'R hooka.

This would be a 5 out of 5 for me, but for one problem, it appears that it was a bit of a dodgy pressing. I am now on copy number three of this release and on every single copy owned, there is a LOT of feedback at the start of the wax, with echoey, tinny vocals throughout.

Have I just been unlucky???

Would love to hear back from anyone else on the ownership list...

A damn shame...

This track would be a solid slice of four Out Of five niceness if it wasn't sooooooooooooo badly mastered.

The bass is tinny and distorted to the point that you end up turning the bass right down and it still rattles the speakers something chronic...

I have bought this track two or three times over the years from the four corners of the earth and every copy is the same.

I would LOVE to hear this track re-mastered, but i'm not gonna hold my breath on that one!!!

What A crying shame...

Quite simply "The Best" compilation album I own...

What A cracking compo put together by the daddies of the scene at that time, "Tuff Jam". A real vocal journey mixing the US & UK productions of the era to stunning effect. For those just discovering the house/ garage scene, this is a must have educational tool as a study of the roots of today's sound.

Personally, I missed this one first time around and snapped it up a couple of years later in '98. Since then, it hasn't moved from the glove box and is in absolute bits now. It's constantly in and out of the CD player and never fails to put a smile on my face from start to finish.

From the moment the tight, dubby drums of DJ Disciple's "Keep On Movin'" drop in, to the vocal masterpiece finale of Creative Force's "It's So Good", you can't miss a beat.

If you can find this, SNAP IT UP. And if you can find two copies, GET IN TOUCH as my copy's on it's last legs!!!

I found this in a secondhand shop for £1.50...

Best £1.50 I spent in a loooong time.

For me, the Deep Dish remix is worth ten times that fee alone...

A real layered production from the chaps with an Old Skool summer vibe. When this tune drops, it never fails to put a smile on my face, although to this day, i'm still stumped as to what the hell that female vocalist is actually saying!!!

I took a chance on this a few years ago and ordered a copy without even hearing it.

what a cracking move that was...

This is a lovely bit of wax with four solid, completely different mixes.

"The Club Mix" being the standard quality 4/4 piano production expected from the Urban Heat stable with the other mixes pretty much following suit.

Then you get to the Xen Mantra Mix...
This hasn't been far away from my box 'cos of that mix since purchase. A real crunchy bass-fest of the highest order, but watch for the breakdown...Many a time have I been caught by that mid-mix!

A classic piece of wax with the standout track for me being the "Big Splash Mix" of "Over You". This has to go down as my all time favourite garage jam. From the moment the monsterous intro drops into that tight, classic Baffled four-four production, you just know that this track is special.

The awesome two minute intro is topped only by the breakdown in the middle of track with that bumpy bassline...

"Keep on in and out of my life, keep on in and out of my
li-i-i-i-fe"

This is a fantascit example of the early days of the london garage scene and takes me back to yesteryear everytime. Garage at it's very best...

Solid three tracker from the Subbase camp combining the CLASSIC "Roll the Beats Remix", the subblime B-line on "Dawn of the Fever" & the piano anthem "Dreams". A very underrated piece of wax.