Disco de Lonestar: “From There to Here: The Greatest Hits”

I have just two questions for the guys of Lonestar: What about "When Cowboys Didn't Dance?" What about "Unusually Unusual?"

Other than that, this is a pretty good CD. Personally, I've been waiting awhile for a greatest hits from this foursome; ever since I purchases their self-titled debut a few years ago, I've waited anxiously for their music to come out. They have heaps of talent, they really do; they are truly one of the best bands in country music today.

On with the music.

Taking a look at this album, you can see that Lonestar enjoy a good ballad; "Tequila Talkin'," "Everything's Changed," "Amazed," "Smile," "Tell Her," TWO versions of "I'm Already There," and "Not a Day Goes By." But their best stuff is, really, when they're cranking it up; "No News," "You Walked In," "What About Now," and "With Me." Their earlier stuff, too (found near the beginning of the album) is best; you know, back when the guys wore belt buckles and hats, and John Rich was still around. Not that I'm complaining. Just reminiscing.

Let's take a look at the new stuff, shall we? You've heard "From My Front Porch Looking In," a rowdy little happy-go-lucky number. "I Pray" is a bit more on the serious side; a ballad of a bad Christian's plea to his God for forgiveness and all that. "Walking in Memphis" is an engaging song about a man going to Memphis to cope with depression and heartache and so forth, and following the ghost of Elvis through the streets. And the new version of "I'm Already There" ("message from home" version) is interlaced with radio messages from family members of soldiers out on call. It really is an emotional number; I felt a tear come to my eye.

Okay, you've waited for it, and here it is: the end of this review. (Or, more correctly I hope, Lonestar's "Greatest Hits".) Subtiled "From There to Here", this album covers the beginning of a great career for a great country music band. If you're a Lonestar fan, you gotta have this album. If you're not really a Lonestar fan, then you should buy this album as a great introductory course into their music. Either way, you should buy this CD so, a few years later, we can have another GREATEST HITS from these guys!

This seventeen-track collection charts the dramatic evolution of Lonestar as a country act. For their first two albums - 1995's Lonestar and 1997's Crazy Nights - Lonestar was a quintet. Decked out in western wear, up-tempo stompers like "No News," "Come Cryin' To Me," and "You Walked In" as well as the occasional gritty ode like "Tequila Talkin,'" established Lonestar as competent honkytonkers.

By the release of their third album - 1999's Lonely Grill - Lonestar had undergone significant changes. Bassist and occasional lead singer John Rich left the group for a solo career (which has yet to take off) and the western wear was dropped in favor of hip, Gap-type duds. The honkytonkers were largely replaced by sentimental ballads such as "Amazed, "Smile" and "Tell Her" that effectively utilized lead singer Richie McDonald's emotional, elastic tenor, and appealed directly to droves of female listeners. 2001's I'm Alright There with its touching title smash and its follow-up "Not A Day Goes By" repeated this winning formula.

In addition to the aforementioned country hits, From There To Here also includes three new recordings. The perky leadoff single, "My Front Porch Looking In," with lines like "there's a carrot top that can barely walk with a sippy cup of milk" that effectively zero in on its soccer mom demographic, has already topped the country charts. "I Pray" is an inspirational ballad that's melodically reminiscent of "Smile," while their energetic remake of Marc Cohn's "Walking In Memphis" - a longtime concert staple - is one of the best recordings they've made in awhile. The latter successfully incorporates sentiment and grit, a combination Lonestar should strive for more in the future.

This CD is awesome! It is one of the few CD's that I could listen to non-stop without getting sick of it. When I first listened to "I'm Already There" with the messages in it, I cried. I don't know anyone over seas, but just listening to that song made me realize how hard it is for the people who do have loved ones in the armed forces. The other songs on this CD won't make you cry, but rather make you smile. The songs are very easy going and very easy to listen to.

Have you noticed that the radio stations only chatter in the morning as oppose to playing music? This cd gets me through the traffic chaos and into my parking space on the student lot almost every morning. Good assortment of their hits in addition to the new songs. ;) The only thing that I'm not wild about is the version of "Tell Her." I prefer the radio version because of its fuller sound as oppose to the version found on this cd. It's still great though! :)

I love this CD! I like Lonestar in general but this CD is one of my favorites. I have been listening to it nonstop on a daily basis and have yet to tire of it at all. There is not even one song on it that I don't like, which is rare. The very last track, I'm already there (message from home) is impossible to listen to without crying. What I love about these guys is their values, and that those values show up in their music.