Customer Reviews
Not as good as I thought it was going to be - By: Dangermouse, 31 May 2008 
I must be getting old-I was well into this backin the day but found it a bit boring now. On the other hand I am increasingly into trance music...oh dear maybe I should see a doctor.
If Renaissance didn't exsist, this would be THE best! - By: T. Clarke, 02 Jun 2006 
The Annual Vol.2 is an album that any clubber can directly associate with the 90's. You only have to look at the tracklist & spot 'Born Slippy' to know that this was a time of transition, & clearly, feel good times! Whether you mesmerized by the lyricsin Born Slippy that sum up the time for young people, or jumping up & down to 'I'm Alive' by fat boy slim, this an album that will never be battered. As my review title suggest, Renaissance may have captured the clubbing essence with the first 2 mix collection albums, but by just the second volume, this was already the peak of Ministry of Sound albums, when they got it just right.
If you thought the first annual was something special, then yourin for a real treat. The brown leather cover present here looks alot more special than the previous editon, & the shiny golden lettering & logo makes it something just as good to look at, as is listening to it. Its something which feels special. And rightly so - this is the biggest selling compilation album of all time, reaching 'triple' platinumin no time. The album kicks off on CD1 with a house theme, all filled with feel good sounds take you back. Tracks 2 & 3 mix absolutley superbly! Its just so simple & not over done. The years massive hit Insomnia is here which is great, & is put next to 2 fine ending tracks, that set a mood for the next cd - Redemption being a great favourite of mine, matching the rest of the albums 90's acid sound. The remix of Voodoo Ray fits the album brilliantly, & the mixing into Tranz Euro Express is insipired. I'm Alove by Fat Boy slim also reminds us that this was club music with variety & style - something non-exsistent now.
CD2 is more up-tempo, & up-beat with some fantastic tunes that remind you of the way classic dance was, & really should be. For me, the song "Arms of Loren" sums up the album - a fantastic tune that has all the qualities to make a good song - feel good, up-beat, & lovely vocals. The mixing between Firestarter & Born Slippy will probably be memorable for anyone owning the album. The 2 songs were just born for each other, & Boy George makes the most of the dark beats rhythms. Born Slippy is of course, another classic 90's song, & actually has alot of meaning if you listen to the lyrics, which goes through the mind teen on acid (see the video). The ending tracks, Misunderstood & Let this be a prayer, end the album really well.
I'd give Boy George the most praise for the mixing work - his ideas on CD2 are fantastic, as he uses a variety of blending, cross overs, & just simple run-ins between the songs. Excluding the his first 2 tracks, the final 2 tracks required alot of timing, as you'll hear, to blend together. Pete Tong does a good on CD1 too - his style being more seamless on this album, & the songs all just seem made to mix into each other. The way he mixed Insonmia into Groovebird was a nice idea too, because they both have the same style sound.
Its not just the mixing that makes this the best of them all, its quite simply the overall package. Its presented with pridein a beautiful brown leather case, & the songs all reflect the 90'sin the truest way, through songs like Insomnia, Voodoo Ray, Firestarter, Born Slippy, Professional Widow - these were the songs that had a massive impact on dance music history, & some may say this was the peak, as well as the begining of trance.
Though this album has actually yet to go upin price on the likes of ebay, you'll find it is quite literally priceless. You only have to compare it to the latest Annuals to see how much MoS has changed, & theirs no doubt Ministry made the most of the 90's - the best era of club music! Sometimes you can over-praise albums or songs, but this truly a defining albumin the history of house music. The second Renaissance album may be at the top of the list for me, along with the beautiful & seamless Gatecrasher Wet, but The Annual vol.2 goes along side those albums for its pure geniousin mixing, & true character.
Its no wonder this album proudly has a placein The Guinness Book Of World Records as the biggest selling compilation of all time...
probably the best mos cd out there - By: , 11 Jun 2004 This is probably the best ministry of sound annual ou there, it has a pure blend of classic house mixed by some of the best dj's that ministry dont use anymore. most of the tracks are mixed with a real charater & this album just shows how much music has changed for ministry of soundin the last eight years. if you own some of the other annuals, i highly recomend this one.
