The gift of music: Our critics recommend box-set and greatest-hits

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 19, 2003

When "I'm Already There" became a post 9/11 anthem, adult- contemporary radio relentlessly played the song from sunup to sundown. And while that song captures country group Lonestar at its sappy best, the other songs on this 17-track greatest-hits album show the band really hasn't changed from its early works, "Tequila Talkin' " and "Runnin' Away with My Heart." The storyline ballad style is well intact, and even newly recorded works -- "My Front Porch Looking In," "I Pray" and a Lonestar take of "Walking in Memphis" -- are in the group's trademark melodic production. And for whoever hasn't tired of "I'm Already There," the disc spotlights a re-recording of the hit, laced with a tear-jerking telephone message from families who have loved ones serving in Iraq. -- S.I.

LORDS OF ACID; "Greatest . . ." (Sanctuary) ** 1/2

The masters of ero-tech have released a greatest-hits package that confines its suggestive dance works. Fifteen uncensored songs and one unexpurgated DVD video have been stuffed into this CD. Some of the club-friendly works include "Gimme Gimme," "Crablouse," "Am I Sexy" and "Do What You Wanna Do." The explicit-lyrics sticker is well placed. -- S.I.

LOVE; "The Best of . . . " (Elektra) ***

Arthur Lee and his psychedelic band Love caught the attention of the Doors' Jim Morrison. He loved Love. He and most local Los Angeles bands used Love as a measuring stick to gauge hipness and success, even though Love didn't make it much higher than mere cult status. Better-known works, such as "7 & 7 Is," "Alone Again Or" and "My Little Red Book" are here in remastered form. Also included are "Orange Skies," "She Comes in Colors" and a frantic remake of "Hey Joe," which was made famous by Jimi Hendrix in 1967. Nice compilation, but no match for the Love box set, "Love Story: 1966- 1972," released in 1995. -- S.I.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD; "Thyrty: the 30th Anniversary Collection" (UTV)***

The seminal Southern Rock band from Jacksonville, Fla., has a box set, numerous "Greatest Hits" collections and was the subject of a tribute album. It even released a Christmas album a few years back. "Thyrty" is chock full of Skynyrd classics, such as "Sweet Home Alabama," "Tuesday's Gone," "Free Bird," "Saturday Night Special" and "That Smell." Some of the live tracks include "Whisky Rock-a- Roller," "Simple Man" and "Gimme Back My Bullets." Rearing its head for the first time is a previously unreleased cut of "Blues Melody." - - S.I.

JO DEE MESSINA; "Greatest Hits" (Curb) ** 1/2

Messina moved from New England to Nashville when she was 19. She became "the other Red Head." (The first, of course, was Reba McEntire.) Messina hit it well with her songs of empowerment ("Bye- Bye"), restlessness ("Heads Carolina, Tails California") and attitude ("Bring on the Rain"). Her "Greatest Hits" include those songs and two new uplifting works, "Was That My Life" and "You Belong to the Sun." -- S.I.

JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY; "The Best of . . . " (Warner Bros.) ***

Non-country-music fans will recognize Montgomery's hit "I Swear," which was also a crossover hit for Rhythm and Blues vocal group All- 4-One. And that's about it. Country fans will recognize "The Little Girl," Montgomery's collaboration with Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski. But there's more: "Be My Baby Tonight," "Life's a Dance," "I Can Love You Like That" and "Angel in My Eyes." All are staple JMM works that grace this album. -- S.I.