Compilation Album Review: "Can't Beat The Music Volume 2"

Compilation: Can't Beat The Music Vol. 2
Released: 1992 – Festival
Number of tracks: 18
Number one singles: None
Top ten singles: 5
Best track: "Ordinary Angels" by Frente
Hidden gem: "Hey Boys" by Paul Kelly/Mark Seymour

Here's a somewhat lesser known compilation – although it was the second of three volumes – from 1992 that I believe was released between Volumes 4 and 5 of the 100% Hits series. Ahh, the memories of Year 9!

It's got mostly Australian content: "Djapana [Gapirri mix]" by Yothu Yindi, "That Word (L.O.V.E.)" by Rockmelons feat. Deni Hines, "Ain't Gonna Get" by Baby Animals, "Kickin' To The Undersound" by Sound Unlimited Posse and "Ordinary Angels" by Frente — all solid tracks — and also songs by Rick Price, Jimmy Barnes (with Tina Turner), Paul Kelly & Mark Seymour, Indecent Obsession, Kylie Minogue and Nathan Cavaleri (with Chris Bailey).

Apart from 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready For This" (although I wish they'd included the version with vocals), another solid techno track is L.A. Style's "James Brown Is Dead", also notable for being released in two different versions. The one here is the rap version, although the 'rock radio version' with sung verses ain't bad either. There's also "America: What Time Is Love" by The KLF, one of their 1991 singles that didn't get much attention in Australia. Which is too bad as it's almost as good as "Last Train To Trancentral", in my opinion.

There's some other stuff on here that didn't chart, or else it charted very briefly and escaped my attention (and I was still an avid chart follower in 1992). There's a Brazilian singer named Deborah Blando, who delivers a sappy ballad that actually is okay, even though ballads aren't my thing.

I'd also never heard Warrant, of all people, doing a cover of Queen's "We Will Rock You" that I guess was released as a single! Queen are one of those bands where you have to consider very carefully covering one of their songs, but I guess they do an okay job. I think it was for a Freddie Mercury tribute so it wasn't completely tossed off.

Rating: 6/10