Reggae Hits Volume 25 (Jet Star, 1999)

This "Silver Edition" of the Reggae Hits series comes correct, showing the weakening Strictly the Best, Reggae Gold, and Greensleeves Sampler series how it's done.  The first half is practically perfect, as an amazing 9 of 10 songs are very good (The other -- Glen Washington's "Down Low" -- is merely OK.), often great.  Some of the best tracks of 1999 are included in the first half, headed by newcomer Shalom's irresistibly weepy lovers rock hit "News for You" and old-fashioned, piano-driven "Just Try Me."  Also outstanding are Capleton's roaring (almost Tiger-like), fun "Who I Am," Singing Melody's cover of Take That's "I Want You Back" (Wasn't this actually done in 1998?), and Peter Hunnigale's syrupy yet likeable "Going Out of My Head."  The second half if flat by comparison, but still half of the cuts are good, especially Bushman's blistering "I Burn."  Luciano contributes the nice "Moving Out of Babylon," while Tanto Metro & Devonte's party jam "I Can't Get No Sleep" and Sizzla's "Dem a Go Suffer" -- which rides the same riddim as "I Burn" -- are hot.  Overall, the top-notch tunes make you forget the few average ones, making this collection worthy of "silver" status.