Published: May 09, 2008 12:25 am            

Greatest hits album from local big dog Toby Keith a howling success

pop writer



Regardless of what you think of Cleveland County resident and country superstar Toby Keith, you have to give him credit for visiting the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and playing for them all while dodging mortar fire and sandstorms of Biblical proportions.

Yes, all of that has happened to Toby Keith in the past few weeks during his USO tour over in various war zones. And he's gotten some positive attention for being so brave.

In fact, you couldn't ask for better press leading up to the release of his latest and greatest hits package "35 Greatest Hits" out this week on his label Show Dog Nashville.

And, save the hits off last year's "Big Dog Daddy," they're all here and in chronological order. Imagine that.

Naturally, you want to kick off with "Should've Been a Cowboy," the song that launched his career.

It's those 1990's hits that are particularly interesting. Some, like "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action" capture your attention while "A Woman's Touch," from 1996's "Blue Moon" album are twangy and appealing, don't stick with you as much.

Still, the hits are numerous. "Who's That Man," one of Keith's biggest early hits, still sounds fresh, although it fades a bit early on this collection.

The first disc wraps up with the solid "Dream Walkin'" (a personal favorite), and "How Do You Like Me Now," the 1999 megahit that launched him into superstar status.

From 1999 to 2001, Toby Keith gets a boost of energy unlike any country star I've heard. "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight," "I Wanna Talk About Me" and "My List," off of 2001's "Pull My Chain" are solidly produced and pure Toby. His "big dog" persona is really starting to come through.

And then the 9/11 attacks happen and Toby Keith pens his most controversial song ever -- "Courtesy of the Red, White -- Blue (The Angry American"). Sure, it had the famous "boot in your ass" line, and it ticked off Dixie Chick Natalie Maines who called the song "ignorant," but it was written from the heart and captured the zeitgeist of those months following 9/11. Pure genius, Mr. Keith.

From there it's the pure country pop of "Who's Your Daddy," "Stays in Mexico" and "Big Blue Note." But it's the highlights of the uber-patriotic "American Soldier" and the countrypolitan vibe of "A Little Too Late" that make one pause and take notice. Now, I would've left off "Mockingbird," his duet with his daughter Krystal. It's just lousy. But he makes up for it with the duet he did with Willie Nelson on "Beer For My Horses" (soon to be a movie!) and the Waylon Jennings-styled country of "Honkytonk U." As for "She's a Hottie," the new hit off the collection, well, I'm feeling a bit mixed about. Lyrically it's atrocious but musically it's spot on.

So, overall, "35 Greatest Hits" showcases a fellow Okie who's made good, no, make that great.



Rating - A

        

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