Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Off the wall, alternative...genius?, June 26, 2004
You cannot compare another band to The Mavericks. For years, they have been proving themselves--on and off radio. Though never scoring a huge smash hit, they've been everybody's underground favorite--a band with a unique sound and one of the best singers in the business, Raul Malo.It is Malo's voice and songwriting that carries the band. From his scorching performance on "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down) to the operatic vocals of "Dream River," Malo's voice soars into unknown territory--way beyond what most country singers can do. But let's not forget what makes the Mavericks so enjoyable--the songs. On Malo originals, such as "From Hell to Paradise" and "Missing You," you get moving performances. You get upbeat dance tunes with "There Goes My Heart" and "I Don't Care If You Don't Love Me Anymore" (liner notes say it hasn't been released on an American CD, but I believe it was on the "Michael" soundtrack). And then there're the cover tunes: "Here Comes My Baby" (The Tremeloes, written by Cat Stevens); "All That Heaven Will Allow" (Springsteen); "Hey Good Lookin" (if you don't know...); "Blue Moon" (God, how many people did this one?; I'm probably missing some, but there you go. Is this collection actually definitive? I can't tell you that. I'm not a die-hard Mavericks fan--this is my first album of theirs. However, I can tell you that it is indeed a collection that spans from their first album to the one before their most recent. With some liner notes that track the band's history, this CD is a great addition to your collection. And yes, the Mavericks may have an off the wall, alternative, unique sound. Is it some sort of musical genius? Listen for yourself, then decide.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The strongest Mavericks compilation yet, August 1, 2005
This outstanding retrospective takes a look at the music of the Mavericks, an excellent pop-country group from Florida. Presented in chronological order, the set opens with three tracks from their commercial debut, From hell to paradise (This broken heart, the title track and a cover of a Hank Williams classic). Their second album (What a crying shame) was a huge success in America, where it remains their most popular album. Understandably, five tracks are taken from that album for this compilation (the title track, I should have been true, There goes my heart, O what a thrill and a cover of All that heaven will allow, originally written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen).
While the Mavericks never again did as well in America, they built an international fan base that continued to grow. The follow-up album (Music for all occasions) remains my favorite album of theirs. The standard album is represented by four tracks (Missing you, Here comes the rain, All you ever do is bring me down, Writing on the wall) but their cover of Blue moon, which appeared on the UK version of the CD, is also included here. Personally, I wish they had found room for Something stupid, which they recorded with Trisha Yearwood and which surpasses the original Nancy and Frank Sinatra version, but if you want to hear it, you can find it on Music for all occasions.
The next track (I don't care if you don't love me anymore) comes from an album that the Mavericks released independently prior to securing a major label contract. Next come three tracks (Dance the night away, Dream river, To be with you) from Trampoline, their most popular album with British fans. After a live track (Rancho grande), the album is rounded off by two tracks (Think of me, Here comes my baby) originally recorded for an earlier greatest hits package.
This compilation provides a great introduction to the music of the Mavericks and is stronger overall than their earlier hits package - however, fans who have the original albums will find more to interest them in that earlier package (especially the European version) than this one. I generally prefer listening to their original albums than any hits package but if you only want one collection of their music, this is the best yet released.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
20 tracks of sheer fun. Best compillation out there bar none!, December 2, 2005
As fans of this band know, The Mavericks were one of the most acclaimed country bands of the 1990s and, at their apex, they were among the most popular. They never fit the mold of what people think of as "country" and some were critical of their hybrid sound, but in my opinion good music is good music no matter where it originates from or where the company/the record industry chooses to try and place them because it seems like they think we are idiots and need to have our music in neat little packages. Some other musicians, like k.d. lang and Wynonna Judd, have been criticized for leaving their country roots behind, but in my mind their development as artists should take them wherever it takes them.
Listening to this meaty 20 song "best of" (clocking in at 73:48 minutes, with 2 previously unreleased songs) I can't help but fall in love with this band all over again. Some artists are releasing "best of" collections with barely recognizable or memorable songs, but this is one of the few releases that I have encountered which actually leaves you wanting more. Raul Malo's vocals are the stuff that dreams are made of. One only need to listen to the CD's opener: "This Broken Heart," to feel all tingly.
If you've never heard of these guys before, think rootsy country meets the history of pop styles (esp. 1950's, 1960's) and the results are plain addictive and never dated. This hybrid band enjoyed critical success, captured the imagination of some very hard-core fans, but has been kind of forgotten. I came late to the game, but I am so glad that I did. If you find yourself liking this release, I would recomend buying their 2004 "Live From Austin Texas" release. I am generally not a fan of live CDs, but these guys really let loose without the confines of a recording studio. 5 easily earned stars.
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