Fatboy Slim - The Greatest Hits: Why Try Harder

Fatboy Slim could have tried harder. Gangster Tripping is the template for all his singles; the bouncy, high-pitched hip-hop sample riding a fat beat, as carnival brass parps a celebratory riff in the background. Right Here, Right Now brings back dancefloor memories, with Shadow-lite string samples and euphoric, structured breakdowns. The breakdown/buildup is Cook's specialty - there is little else to the well known tracks. Collaborations with Quannum MC Lateef, like new single That Old Pair of Jeans, are workmanlike. There's more to annoy: remixes of Brimful of Asha and I See You Baby are commodified pop, utterly disposable, and Macy Gray grates on Demons. However, the beer-swilling, jump around brilliance of Going Out of My Head and Santa Cruz, and the cheeky 60s vibes of Don't Let The Man Get You Down are hard to deny. For casual fans, this has everything you need, but Fatboy is best enjoyed live, or on his early Skint singles. [Bram Gieben]