Totally Country Vol 4 (2005) (Kenny Chesney/Big & Rich/)

Volume 4 of this series scoops up another 17 mainstream country hits across multiple labels, providing a one-stop shop for catching up on recent chart action. There are no real surprises here (which would be tough to do, given the radio exposure these cuts received), but these songs were hits for a reason: they stand up to repeated listening. The one really different sounding song is the R‘n’B styled “Heaven” from Los Lonely Boys. It's hard to imagine why this would be a country hit, but it sure is catchy! If you like this cut, be sure to check out Los Lobos, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Santana and others. Highlights abound, including Alan Jackson’s wishful “That’d Be Alright,” Gretchen Wilson’s hell-raisin’ “Red Neck Woman,” Toby Keith’s warm Saturday-night anthem, “I Love This Bar,” and George Strait’s cover of Bruce Robison’s terrific “Desperately” (check out the original of the latter on Robison’s CD “Wrapped,” along with the original of “Angry All the Time”). Buddy Jewel’s “Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey’s Song)” shows the Nashville Star winner to have a confident, easy style not unlike George Strait. Kenny Chesney’s breezy “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” and Blake Shelton’s Jimmy Buffet styled “Some Beach” make a nice pair placed back-to-back, and even farther down-tempo there are ballads that include Brad Paisley’s “Little Moments,” John Michael Montgomery’s touching war-time “Letters From Home,” Gary Allan’s “Tough Little Boys,” and Clay Walker’s “I Can’t Sleep.” As should be expected, many of these tracks cross-over into other genres. Big & Rich’s “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy),” features Western-themed lyrics and edgings of banjo and fiddle, but it’s basically a pop-rock song. A good pop-rock song, but heavier on the power chords than the Carter Family probably every struck up. Similarly, Sara Evans’ “Perfect” plays her superbly country-tinged voice against guitars and drums that are more power-pop than Opry acoustic. This is a nicely programmed disc that gives modern country fans a chance to hear their favorites without commercial interruption!
 
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