by Sterling McGarvey

You know how you look at a track listing and just know right off the bat that you're going to like the CD? I mean, that's why you go CD shopping, right?

With For Those Who Like to Get Down, Marques Wyatt brings us a strong follow-up to 2000's critically acclaimed Sound Design Vol. 1. Adding his heavily vocal-influenced house sounds to this effort on OM Records, Wyatt weaves in and out of such big tracks as Erro's "Don't Change for Me" and the DJ Spinna and Ticklah Remix of Shaun Escoffery's "Days Like This." He skillfully blends them with warm, soulful vocals of slightly lesser known cuts.

The album warms up with the title track, which segues (in my opinion, a little bit off key) into "Don't Change for Me." It's good to finally hear this track on a commercial release. The three-punch of the album connects hard with Majestika - "Mind Magic," Mafikizolo - "Loot (African Mix)," and Shaun Escoffery - '"Days Like This."

Other honorable mentions go to Daniel Paul's "Outta Space (Meitz Remix Dub)," with its surprisingly funky and un-annoying (given the glut of 80s throwback tunes on the market) synths, and Demetrios Project's "Feel Alive (Jaimie Lewis Late Nite Mix)." Marques' vibe seems to jump across Afrobeat-influenced tracks ("Oda Oya [Boyd's Vocal Mix]"), gospel house (witness Paul Johnson's "Precious Lord"), and deep, soulful house without missing a beat. And any house track that uses accordions alongside acoustic guitar licks ("Café de Flore") is an attention grabber.

The wind down comes with Kerri Chandler featuring the vocals of E-Man with "Brooklyn." You gotta give it to E-Man. Brother Man has heart. Hella heart. The last kiss of the disc comes with The Rurals' "Rubberband," a deep head nodder that feels like the last stretch, or the 4am cut right before the lights come up and security gently persuades you to gravitate toward the exits.

For Those Who Like to Get Downhas the feel of an album that is best heard while barreling down the interstate en route to the club. It is definitely not an album designed to sit down in front of a computer and play while surfing the web. It's a CD designed to make you move your ass in the drivers' seat and bob your head as you try to find a parking space and chase beats through ghetto streets.

For Those Who Like to Get Down
Mixed by Marques Wyatt
Track Listing:

1. For Those Who Like To Get Down
2. Change For Me - Osunlade Presents Erro
3. Green Tea - Slowsupreme
4. Feel Alive - Demetrios Project
5. Precious Lord - Paul Johnson
6. Love Vibe - Iz + Diz
7. Mind Magic - Majestika
8. Loot - Mafikizolo
9. Days Like This - Shaun Escoffery
10. Outta Space - Daniel Paul
11. Oda Oya - Ola Jagun And His Ancestral Rhythms
12. Caf=E9 De Flore - Doctor Rockit
13. Brooklyn (Where I Live - Kerri Chandler featuring E-Man
14. Rubbersong - The Rurals