There isn't a much better way to open a CD than with Powerman5000's hit single "When Worlds Collide," and the CD only gets stronger from there. GoBig! records has compiled an impressive blend of rap and rock music for their motocross collection, including songs from Powerman5000, Deftones, Wu-Tang Clan, and Sevendust.

The album starts off with an appropriate heavy tone, and continues in the same thread through five songs from several bands that fit the motocross image of quality, exciting entertainment that's not quite mainstreamed. Sevendust's "Denial" and Slipknot's contribution of "Wait And Bleed" provide a nice relief from the cookie cutter pop music that graces the rock radio airwaves today, while at the same time not being too extreme and hard on the ears.

However, only when the album hits track six by a band named Innercourse does it seem to really hit its stride. "King Of The Ring" is the type of song I would expect to hear on an album devoted to motocross. It offers intense drumming with energetic guitar playing and gradually crescendoes to a higher and higher level of adrenaline. This song seems to echo the style of Rage Against the Machine a bit, but has a certain edge to it that Rage seems to have lost in recent efforts and at the same time is a more pleasant listen.

>From there it loses a bit of steam with rap contributions by Wu-Tang Clan and others, and to be completely honest it becomes difficult to even discern the end of one song from the beginning of the next at points. All are competent tracks, but the lack of variety stands out and seems to be against the spirit of motocross itself.

By far the best and most appropriate track on the album comes from a group called Reveille. Track 13, "The Phoenix," is the kind of intense, driving song I had expected from the whole album, and is one of the few that makes me think of motorcycles flying around a dirt track, tossing up mud with exhaust fumes filling the air. It is followed by another solid and appropriate track by Primer 55.

The final song, "Ghostown," seems to be a somewhat poor selection to finish the album. It is a disappointing rap song that seems to be without the focus and drive of the previous two tracks and doesn't work well following the emotional high. It's a solid song, but would work better earlier in the compilation, perhaps in the middle with the other rap songs.

Overall, this is a fabulous compilation. It encompasses enough variety to maintain the listener's interest for the most part, yet seems to hold a common thread throughout. It may not be incredibly reminiscent of the motocross experience, but it's still a solid CD that will not disappoint.