Greatest Hits Volume II [Limited Edition] - Jackson, Alan (CD 2003)

I've always had mixed feelings about this guy. His down home style and occassionally maudlin ballds, like WHERE WERE YOU (WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING), turn me off. But his up tempo rebellious songs, like IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE (WITH JIMMY BUFFET) or ITTY BITTY, and reminiscing songs like DRIVE are absolutely the best of new country.

The FIVE O'CLOCK song topped the charts, and is just so much fun that I catch myself singing it whenever my boss gets on my case. (Anybody know what a Hurricane is?)

Basically, I like songs that other people write for him, way better than his own stuff, and this album just confirms these prejudices. Only the interminably nostalgic REMEMBER WHEN seems to even strike a chord with amongst his slow numbers.

A second greatest hits album is clearly justified, but stick with the uptempo stuff...