Eddie Murphy - Greatest Comedy Hits

Eddie Murphy - Greatest Comedy Hits Review

Even though he's suffered through some bad scripts and an ill-advised singing career and been eclipsed by a younger generation of black comics (like Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock), Eddie Murphy remains one of the most important--and funniest--standups to come along since Richard Pryor. This album reminds you why. At his best, Murphy is wonderfully inventive and accessible. There are some excellent old bits here: "Drinking Fathers," "Ice Cream Man"--plus some rare, unreleased routines from Murphy's New York nightclub days. This CD is an excellent addition to any collection; Murphy's impression of James Brown is worth the price alone, as are lines like, "What the f*** does 'gooney-goo-goo' mean?... Gus, your wife is a Bigfoot!" -- Michael Gerber

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: Greatest Hits

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: Greatest Hits Review

The lovable twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, have been growing up since their playful Brother for Sale. So it's no surprise that this Greatest Hits collection's opening frame of tunes (from Ballet Party) features them discussing the history of the sleepover party and their desire to travel to see the New York City Ballet. They're reaching adolescence, with richer voices and more precise articulation, and this becomes all the more clear when they sing Brother's title track in very young, cutesy voices. The twins have obviously captured more children's imagination since their debut and so this collection's emphasis is understandably on their later work. It's this work that makes this set best for kids 10 and older, especially the closing 4 songs--all of which relate to fashion, junior high school, and the mall. Many parents are pining for stuff this innocent for their near-adolescent kids and this collection is golden for that set. For parents of younger kids interested in the dynamic duo, start with the funny Brother for Sale or I Am the Cute One. --Andrew Bartlett