Disco de The Mavericks: “Super Colossal Smash Hits of the 90's: The Best of the Mavericks”

Maybe it's just me ... I can't figure out why these guys have such a tough time finding airplay on the radio here in the States. Their music is the best of what music should be: true to its roots (as evidenced on the tracks from the earlier albums) and yet edgy and ever-changing.

In this collection of hits, the quintessential sound of the Mavericks is presented almost as a gift -- everything from good honky-tonk twang to ballads that should have found their way onto Top 40 Pop Radio. The four new tracks cover every style from Fab Four-styled harmonies ("Things I Cannot Change") to Tijuana-meets-Bakersfield (especially on "Think of Me [When You're Lonely].") Equally fun are all the "old faves." The one disappointment is that there weren't more tracks off the 1998 release, Trampoline.

If you're a Mavericks fan, this walk-down-Memory-Lane-with-a-look-to-the-future should be right up your alley. If you've not had the pleasure of listening to the Mavericks before, then do yourself a favor. Pony up the dough and get this one!

While I'm writting this, I'm listening to Things I Cannot Change.I just can't stop listening to it. It gets you, like all (I mean all) Mavericks songs. Ironically, it wasn't written by Raul Malo (actually, only one out of the 4 new songs in this compilation was). But it could've been. It has his signature, and only the Mavericks could have done it. What about the other songs? Yes, cause, after all it's a compilation! That reminds me a review I read long ago about Great Days, John Prine's Rhyno compilation. At one point, the reviwer said that the customer would regret buying it, cause it'd make him wanting to buy all the albuns. The same thing would apply to Mavericks if it wasn't for those new songs. Don't try to label the Mavericks. They make great songs, for all occasions I must say, and you have that sort of feeling of being brought back to the 50's in a time capsule. Those good days. Unfortunatelly, these are strange days, where Garth Brooks (just to mention the most pathetic) sells millions of something I can only describe as....well, never mind. You can fill in the blanck. Cheers, and let the good times roll. Mavericks still doing SWELL.

I bought this CD after seeing the video for "Dance the Night Away", a song I could listen to over and over! I also heard it on the begining of a BBC America show on cable! I understand the Brits love the Mavericks, what's wrong in this country? Raul's voice is the most smooth and emotional I have heard since Roy Orbison. The whole CD is wonderful, and that comes from a non-country music fan!

Leave it to the Mavericks to come up with a title for this retrospective that is as unique and entertaining as their music. Alas, few of their singles actually made it to the upper regions of the country charts to become smash hits - a sorry reflection on the narrow-minded programmers at country radio who couldn't relate to the Mavericks non-traditional Tex-Mex/latin-tinged/ roots rockin' (pick one or create your own classification) sound.

Led by Raul Malo's magnificent vocals (equal parts Orbison and Yoakam), the Mavericks created some of the 90's most exciting music. The diverse selection of favorites found here - all great - include the haunting "What A Crying Shame," the honkytonkin' "There Goes My Heart," the lush ballad "I Should Have Been True," and the two-steppin' "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down."

The four new tracks gel nicely with the prior hits and are worthy additions to their legacy. "Things I Cannot Change" conjures up pleasant memories of late 60's Beatles while the Mavericks add a dash of salsa to the Buck Owens honkytonker "Think Of Me When You're Lonely." With the horn-infused original "Pizziricco" and the Cat Stevens remake "Here Comes My Baby" they take latin rhythms into irresistible overdrive.

This `best of' is the strongest country music compilation released in `99. More importantly, it's a festive feast that'll put a smile back on your stressed-from-the-holidays kisser.

Love the Mavericks...this is a great CD. Though I must admit that I don't like all the songs by them, but their 'mixed-genre' and their alternative styles of country music are as attractive as it gets, not to mention ..HIS voice! My personal favourite is "Things I Cannot Change", which is not included in all their other greatest hits CDs, such as the '20th Century Masters' version...which is disappointing. This album also includes other catchy hits such as "Here Comes the Rain" and "I Should Have Been True". I may have not learned to adore most of their songs yet, but those 'few' favourites that I like, have already earned them as one of my top 5 favourite country artists/groups. And those 'few' songs are not only good, they are just plainly some of the best!