Comments on: A Tale of Four Hits Collections

By: Eduardo Vargas

Eduardo Vargas — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:35:54 +0000

Really dude? You’re calling Brad Paisley mediocre? If anybody is mediocre in today’s country music it’s Blake Shelton. It’s incredible how blind and offensive some folks are.

By: Kevin John Coyne

Kevin John Coyne — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 03:17:28 +0000

I didn’t like “Southern Voice” much to begin with, but wow, does it sound worse alongside his best work.

By: Dan Milliken

Dan Milliken — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:46:07 +0000

I’m just glad to see you’ve come to your senses about “Southern Voice,” Kevin. That might get my vote for worst single of his career. I think “Felt Good on My Lips” is at least kind of fun in the “oh oh oh” parts without lyrics.

I like for compilations to do chronological sequencing, because it helps me develop a historical perspective. So I wish the Chicks’ set was done normally instead of in reverse. But whatever.

By: Soul Miners Daughter

Soul Miners Daughter — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:36:38 +0000

Brad Paisley = BORING!

As for the Dixie Chicks, it’s a shame what happened with them as we can only imagine where they would have gone. They were such an incredibly welcomed group on so many levels.
As for the infamous Bush statement… if any Urban artist were to make a similar statement about our current President, they would receive THE. SAME. treatment by Urban radio and listeners.
It’s all about having an inkling of intelligence to know who is paying your bills, ie. “common sense”.

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:38:42 +0000

I liked “Cold Day In July” too. I’ve found that when I’m first discovering a past hitmaker whom I’m not very familiar with, I might tend to gravitate toward the compilation album and purchase it as an introduction. But if I develop a strong affinity for the artist, that’s when I might go back and start mining the studio albums in their catalog.

By: Libby

Libby — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:43:01 +0000

“and released The Very Best of Tim McGraw”. Is there any doubt about them doing this? Probably several times…

Of these I thnk I need to get AJ’s. I’m not as familiar with his catalog as I should be considering he has some of my favorite songs. Drive, Remember When, Where Were You are a few, but I suspect I’m missing a lot and if you think this is a good representation then it’s time I got it.

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:38:42 +0000

Hmmm…”Cold Day in July” is on my favorites Chicks list.

By: KatieR

KatieR — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:36:57 +0000

love your Chicks review :) I agree, and I love this compilation so much better than their previous “best of” that was released earlier in the year. And while I think the Chicks could pick 30 random songs off their albums and it would be better than most other artists “essentials”, they do have a few weaker songs. “Cold Day in July” is an odd song in a strange situation, b/c when you listen to the radio version it’s rather bland and boring, BUT when you listen to the version off their live cd, the song jumps to life and grabs your attention and won’t let go, imho. (Although I think their live versions of every song are much better than the studio versions).

I’m not surprised you gave Brad’s compilation a 3-star. Beyond a few songs, I don’t think most of his material stands up to landing on any “essential hits” album, even if they did get a #1.

I agree with your Tim McGraw review too. Love him, but he does have a few questionable hits in his catalog.

By: Hoggy from Oz

Hoggy from Oz — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 07:29:12 +0000

Great reviews :)

By: Zack

Zack — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:23:10 +0000

Despite the chronological sequencing on the Chicks compilation (like Travis, I am not too crazy over), it is great to have a collection that I can easily offer to one who wants to explore the Chicks or great country music in general, without trying to narrow down selections from every album to label as 'their best.' I got the Paisley compilation, but didn't care much for it. I like to get a greatest hits compilation of an artist if I don't want to explore his/her albums of material (especially if they have a LONG career, like Dolly, where I just cherry-pick certain albums and try to find a hits compilation that encompasses their career well). Part of the reason why I love the "Essential" series is that it offers the best (rather than all successful) material from the artist. The Mary Chapin Carpenter Essential set that was released before her Between Here And Gone set remains one of my favorite hits compilation I've ever had.