Strictly the Best Volume 17 (VP, 1996)

Volume 17 is a sub-par effort in the Strictly the Best series that sounds like it should be better than it is.  I say this because it has many songs that are moderately good but that lack that extra something, either musically or vocally.  Spragga Benz's "Funny Gal Thing," Buju Banton's "Politics Time Again," Beenie Man's "New Suzuki," and Anthony B's "Fire Pon Rome" all have a nice overall sound, but I can't say that I really enjoy them a whole lot -- certainly not as much as I should.  Instead, the ones that I do end up liking a lot are General Degree's "Robin Hood," Beenie Man's old school take on the Skatalites' "Eastern Standard Time," "Blackboard," and a taste of some of the great hits of Bounty Killer's career in "Bounty's Nitro Mix."