LTJ Bukem

A compilation of material from an array of Bukem-helmed labels, including flagships Good Looking and Looking Good, plus Cookin' and Nexus. Accordingly, Earth, Vol. 1 features a broad range of material. Paul Hunter's Poets of Thought project contributes much of the variety, including two hip-hop tracks and the Latin soul-jazz flavor of "Samba With JC." Other highlights include the debut of Pablo ("Do What You Gotta Do"), Doc Scott's "Tokyo Dawn," and Bukem's "Moodswings." The only drawback is Bukem's sense of conscious artistic vision -- each track is described, analyzed, and given purpose, subverting the impact of the album as a whole. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide