The Best of Groove Armada

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Best of Groove Armada charts the success of one of the UK's most popular dance acts. Featuring the biggest hits from their last three albums, this anthology of their time on the Jive label is packed with downbeat and upbeat anthems, and an array of music as heard in film, television and radio.

The subdued intro and trombone melody of "Superstylin" opens the collection softly with the now legendary bassline kicking in for a perfect euphoric moment. Other upbeat anthems include the piano house of "If Everybody Looked the Same", the Fatboy Slim mix of Gramma Funk's "I See You Baby" (both of which have been used to sell cars) and the more recent disco hit, "Easy". However, although Tom Findlay and Andy Kato pack dance floors every weekend, it's their downbeat soul that receives most attention, partly due to the "chillout" explosion of 2000 that made "At the River" a classic of the genre. With their last album Lovebox, GA showed a more versatile, band-influenced side with songs like the Status Quo sampling "Purple Haze", the rocky "Madder" and fun-loving ska of "But I feel Good".

The Best of Groove Armada is a great selection of songs showing the diversity and musical progression of the band, a perfect introduction for the un-initiated and a good collection for those already converted.--Georgina Collins

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Description
One of the UK's most successful dance music outfits issue their "greatest hits" compilation. This brings together all of their biggest tunes, many of which have been used on TV commercials - including 'I See You Baby' from the now-infamousRenault Megane ad.

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Customer reviews

review by: Chunky Chicken date: 2007-03-24 rating:
Fantastic album...
Having bought this album after hearing it playing in the hairdressers (!), I was not dissappointed. There are so many songs I recognised that I didn't even realise were Groove Armada's and there's a real mix of chill out songs along with dance/pop, so whatever mood you're in this album will give you a lift! I don't think this album will ever sound out-dated, it's great!

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review by: Magic Rat date: 2007-03-23 rating:
An excellent and eclectic compilation
Now, I am writing this review as an ageing 70s rocker with little experience or knowledge of contemporary music such as this, despite my 1500 plus CD collection ! Therefore I know nothing about "chill-out" or "downtempo" or whatever so my review will be from a very innocent and possibly naive standpoint.

Nevertheless I find this a worthy mix of influences, styles, sound and ambience. Tracks such as the beautiful, piano-driven ballad "Think Twice" and the gracefully ambient "Inside My Mind"; "Little By Little" and "At The River" are both atrmospheric and relaxing. Contrast that with the iconic and well-known (even to me) "I See You Baby" and the energetic and equally atmospheric "Madder" with its intoxicating bassline, drum sound and guitar breaks and you have a chocolate box of varied music. The final track "But I Feel Good" has some 1970s reggae horn samples and "Purple Haze" samples (obviously) the great Jimi Hendrix to impressive effect.

Even the strange crackly effect used in so much contemporary music bristles with edginess, particulerly when blended with the bass line and funky lead guitar break on "Chicago". I derived a surprising amount of pleasure from this album and didn't really expect to. Maybe other old duffers like myself will do the same !

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review by: paul28113 date: 2006-03-30 rating:
Quality selection of groove armada tracks
Though some of these tracks have been played to death of the years, they still bring a smile to my face, so i guess you could say they should stand the test of time. All in all a worthy addition to anybodies collection. Only compliant i have i why was Suntoucher excluded? it would have been perfect just after superstylin in the track selection. That kind of spoils it for me.

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review by: sweet-chicks date: 2005-12-31 rating:
oh my, this is gooooooooood
i've never heard of groove armada before, so my brother bought me the album i till now i'm just hooked on it, and the way each track switches from each other is so smooth and slick it and it convert me from hip hop to this kind og genre it sooooo cool especially playing it at full blast in the car


review by: date: 2005-01-08 rating:
What's Your Excuse Now?
Groove Armada, who have been riding the infamously thickle wave of dance and electronica music since thier debut in 1999, are without question one of the true founding fathers of the current generation of thier genre. Perhaps thier most impressive ability has been to smoothly shift from style to style, dominating every area of thier genre that they have choosen to explore. From the floor-filling club exploder that is "I See You Baby" to the downtempo "At The River", which almost singlehandedly brought about the massive chill-out explosion of a few years ago, Andy Cato and Tom Findlay have always reinvinted and dominated.

This collection, a compact collection that profiles the past 6 years of Groove Armada is a very accessible and highly enjoyable album. Perfect for those who are looking for a way to get in on the Armada action, but to whome thier rather large back catalogue looks a bit daunting. High Points of the release include one of my personal favourites "Inside My Mind (Blue Skies)", a downtempo 9-Minute beauty that perfectly describes what all chill-out and downtempo wants to be, but what few tracks from said genre actually are. Totally outstanding. "Superstylin'", a big club favourite from 2001 is a masterclass in how to send a dancefloor insane, While far moodier tracks like "Easy" and "Think Twice" provide some lyrical depth to the proceedings.

But that's not to say these are the only stand out tracks here. Being a "Best Of", as you'd expect, the whole album can run from start to finish without even the suggestion of a 'filler' in sight. Groove Armada is a musical experience that nobody above the age of 16 should be without. While thier lengthly back catalogue is without doubt a joy to explore, this collection takes away any exuses from those who don't already own any of the duo's work.

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