AMG Review of Strictly the Best, Vol. 26

Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
All Music Guide

Strictly the Best, Vol. 26 serves up the year's best lovers rock and roots reggae, with an expert eye toward sparkling love ballads. This album boasts 16 tracks that all demonstrate the power of soothing reggae riddims. It's a stellar offering from beginning to end, but the stunners are the remakes -- Terry Linen's stylish cover of Celine Dion's "That's the Way It Is," Sanchez' brillant treatment of Britney Spears' "Sometimes," and Girlfriend's spirited interpretation of Macy Gray's "I Try." This CD is a treat for any music fan in general and reggae lovers in particular.