Record

Zero 7 have never been a band known for smash hits and major singles. Their albums tend to be cohesive, downtempo electronic affairs. Primary composers, Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker achieved commercial and critical success with their 2001 debut, the Mercury Music Prize-nominated Simple Things. Yet, as time has passed, from that release till last year’s, Yeah Ghost, Zero 7 have seen a waning of both personal (e.g. mine) and critical opinion. Despite working with a diverse pool of collaborators and guest vocalists (including Sia Furler, Tina Dico and Jose Gonzalez) across a total of four full length albums, Zero 7’s greatest hits leans heavily on their first, capturing their broad essence yet failing to convince anyone that this is a must own. It might instead serve as a primer for Simple Things, a charming atmospheric album many picked up after hearing “In the Waiting Line” as an official Zach Braff selection on the Garden State soundtrack.

Full Review | More Reviews from Publication | Top Rated of 2010

The first disc of Record might be the most instantly forgettable "greatest hits" compilation I've ever heard. Even for the world of downtempo, that's saying something. Because hell, I once owned a copy of The Very Best of Morcheeba, but even that was enlivened for a few seconds by a brief appearance from an elderly Big Daddy Kane. No such luck here. Even hip-hop's senior citizens would be too energetic to fit comfortably on a Zero 7 album.

Full Review | More Reviews from Publication | Top Rated of 2010