Clubland, Vol. 16

Since making its debut in 2002 with Clubland: The Ride of Your Life, the Clubland series of mix albums increasingly coasted on its reputation as a dependable and economical Eurodance product for the U.K. youth market. Like its predecessors, Clubland, Vol. 16 includes dozens of Eurodance tracks split up into 80-minute mixes. There are well-known songs as well as obscure ones. The mainstream hits are generally remixed in a Eurodance style befitting the Clubland series. For instance, both N-Dubz' "I Need You" and Tinchy Stryder's "You're Not Alone" are remixed by N-Force. Some of the other mainstream hits compiled on this volume include Cheryl Cole's "Fight for Your Love," Pixie Lott's "Boys and Girls," Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling," and Jay Sean's "Down" -- all of them remixed in a Eurodance style. In addition, there are lots of contributions from the Clubland artist roster: Ultrabeat, Scooter, Cascada, Agnes, Skyla, and Darren Styles all show up on Volume 16. Among these contributions, standouts include the hits "Fever" by Cascada and "I Need You Now" by Agnes. Unfortunately, as is customary with the Clubland series, the highlights of each disc tend to be frontloaded, and there's far too much filler (e.g., a version of 50 Cent's "Ayo Technology" by Skyla), generic Eurodance material by no-name artists that keeps the mixes moving along toward their uneventful conclusions. Though it is one disc longer than the previous volume, Clubland, Vol. 16 really isn't much better or worse than the past several albums. This series has long since become routine and continues to sell boatloads on the basis of its reputation rather than its actual content.