"Super Colossal Smash
Hits Of The 90's"
It's not encouraging that only one of
the four new songs on this 1999 greatest-hits package, arriving
after a layoff of more than a year, was cowritten by Raul Malo.
But we come not to bury the Mavericks' future, but to praise
their past. They're the strongest argument that the change in
Nashville in the '90s hasn't all been for the worst. Whether
the songs lean toward country or early-'60s pop-rock, they invariably
have a good feel, good melody, good hooks. They ring simple and
from the heart, without guile or pretense. The musicians are
invariably smart, stylish, and sympathetic. Their chops are undeniable,
but the ensemble playing makes it all work, and the soloists
never upstage the songs or Malo's unforgettable voice. Finally,
for all the talk about the Mavericks' Latino-country fusion,
it's really more pan-Caribbean than strictly Latino. This is
the most festive-sounding country music ever. --John Morthland |
