Greensleeves Reggae Sampler 21 (Greensleeves, 2000)

The Greensleeves Sampler series (or the Greensleeves Reggae Sampler, as it's now called), to me at least, has become a bit stale, as volume after volume seems to contain the same artists performing the same sound.  However, number 21 featured a bit more eclectic of a mix and had so many people that I like -- Capleton, Bushman, Ward 21, Lexxus, Mr. Vegas, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Luciano -- that I had to get it.  Unfortunately, my optimism proved unwarranted, as this volume underwhelms like many of the recent ones in this series have done.  Every artist seems to perform below his/her ability, except perhaps for Capleton -- whose "Who Dem?" and "Bun Dun Dreadie" are excellent, but dancehall fans may have them already on his More Fire album -- and Sizzla and Luciano -- whose "The Vision" and "Jah Is My Only," respectively, are examples of their typically strong, rootsy dancehall.  It's nice to have 18 tracks on an album, but that also means that there's probably some filler in there (especially when you have 2 cuts by Red Rat).  Aside from the Red Rat songs and Lexxus' screechy "Monkeys Out," the songs on Volume 21 aren't bad, just OK.  The best of the mediocrity include Ward 21's "Shake It" -- which adapts the melody from Toni Basil's "Hey Mickey" (eh?) -- Bushman's "Love of the Heart," Hawkeye's "Money Making Guy," and Beenie Man's "Heights of Great Men."  Interestingly, Mr. Vegas performs the "Bailamos"-melodied "Tiger Bone," the same song that Sean Paul performs on his Stage One album.  I've heard plenty of sharing of rhythms between songs, but the whole song?  I'm not sure what the story is behind that, but it seems odd (By the way, I prefer Sean Paul's version.).