When I think of reggae music, I think of two things…

1.) Humid dancefloors with females gyrating better than porn stars.

2.) The beauty of love.

Opposite ends of the spectrum of sorts I presume.

Each year, Strictly The Best puts out these compilations for those of us who are casual listeners of reggae so we can switch from the dancefloor to the bedroom. And with Strictly The Best Volumes 35 and 36, we’re treated to some of the best tunes and, since they come in twos, you get to choose between roots rock or dancehall, whichever fits your mood best.

Together, they make for a lovely combination because you get the best of both worlds. “Hot Wuk” by Mr. Vegas is instant club banger. Bounty Killer brings the gutter to life on “From Dem Dis” and Chuck Fender’s “Gash Dem And Light Them” is straight fire & could be the Jamiacan theme song easily. Mix in new cats like Movado (check for him) and Volume 35 is, in a word, steady, as all the songs featured bring something to the table worth listening to.

Volume 36 might be the true bright spot but it depends on your preferences. Da’Ville’s musings on “Always On My Mind” will bring a tear to your eye. Followed up nicely by “Beautiful Lady” and you can instinctively feel the direction this disc is going. Add in songs like, the classic sound of “Real Thing,” the infectious hook of “Love & Affection,” and the seductive “Come Over” and you have a winning disc.

There’s plenty of other reggae compilations on the market but Strictly The Best always manages to step right with or one step ahead of the competition.

Here a promo stream of by clicking here.