2 Unlimited

Anyone who grew up in 90's and ever attended some sort of sporting event will be familiar with 2 Unlimited. I personally took an interest in them in 1994 (when I went to Germany) but did not buy one of their albums until 1995. I've since purchased and sold their two earlier albums, settling on their greatest hits album for all my needs.

Hits Unlimited (1995) Collects all their hits, including the popular "Get Ready for This", which is/was a staple for third period hockey and fourth quarter basketball. I do recall this was one of the first CD's I ever bought and was pleasantly surprised to find it was enhanced with video clips I could play on my computer (though I needed a CD-ROM drive first). I recommend this for anyone wanting a definitive album of their work. Recommended Tracks: No Limits, Jump for Joy, Workaholic

16Volt

I have a confession to make here at the beginning: I've never purchased a 16Volt album. That said, I do possess seven of their albums, legally, I might add. I heard 16Volt on a number of compilation albums and recommended listening lists and really enjoyed what I heard. A visit to their website at one point led to a chance encounter with their back catalogue which they were allowing fans to download for free. I took advantage of this offer and never looked back. I'm sure glad I did as these guys have become one of my favourite American industrial bands. Update: I have found and purchased three albums recently. I plan to continue this trend as more come along.

Wisdom (1993) Their debut album and not a bad one. Were I to have found and purchased this prior to downloading I likely would have continued to seek out 16Volt albums. As it is, this is one of the first albums of theirs I did buy and I'm grateful to have a hard copy. Recommended Tracks: Motorskill, Hand Over End

Skin (1994) The second album from 16Volt and, while I like it, it feels like cast-offs which weren't good enough for the first album. Not my first choice for those getting into 16Volt for the first time. Recommended Tracks: Perfectly Fake, Downtime Two

The Dreams That Rot In Your Heart (Single) (1996) Can't say I ever knew this existed, but I picked it up as part of my first 16Volt album package. While not my favourite 16Volt songs, they are strong, nonetheless, and the price was right to buy. While the first two songs can be found on their album LetDownCrush, the third is a cover of a Cypress Hill song. Maybe not for the casual listener but a nice addition for the collector (like me). Recommended Tracks: Two Wires Thin, I Ain't Goin Out Like That

LetDownCrush (1996) This is more of what I was expecting from the band. A couple years after back-to-back releases allowed them to refine their sound. Recommended Tracks: Swarm, A Cloth Like Gauze, Cut Collector

SuperCoolNothing (1998) With the same track listing as on the V2.0 release in 2002 (minus the remixes), I was not disappointed to finally buy this. It is missing a couple songs, found on the later release, which I really like, but this is still one of my favourite albums. If you can find V2.0 - buy it. Otherwise, this stands in as a perfectly fine replacement. Recommended Tracks: I Fail Truth, Keep Sleeping, Happy Pill, The Enemy, Machine Kit, And I Go, At the End

Demography - The Basement Tapes (2000) And then we have this. Not bad but...different. Almost feels like a concept album or B-sides to other tracks. Interesting to listen to but, again, not one I would recommend for the first-time listener. Recommended Tracks: Sister Friday, I Make It Rain

SuperCoolNothing V2.0 (2002) Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes. If you're wanting the ideal 16Volt album with which to become acquainted, this is the one. I love this album. Pick it up and you will not be disappointed. Recommended Tracks: I Fail Truth, Keep Sleeping, Happy Pill, The Enemy, Machine Kit, And I Go, At the End, At the End (Club Mix), Suffering You (Demo)

Primal Soundtrack (2003) As stated, the soundtrack for a Playstation game called Primal. Nothing new here. If you already have the other albums you're fine. Good for a completionist. Recommended Tracks: And I Go, Keep Sleeping, Happy Pill, At the End, Suffering You (Demo)

The Best of Sixteen Volt (2005) Yes it is. Despite missing a few of the tracks I recommend above, this is a very strong album. The best part about this release is it also comes with a recorded concert broken down by tracks. I would recommended this as your first or second 16Volt acquisition. Recommended Tracks: Motorskill, Perfectly Fake, Swarm, A Cloth Like Gauze, Two Wires Thin, I Fail Truth, Keep Sleeping, And I Go, Swarm (Live), Machine Kit (Live), Keep Sleeping (Live), Perfectly Fake (Live), Happy Pill (Live), Suffering You (Live), The Cut Collector (Live)