Women of Country - The Internet's #1 Guide to Female Country Music

Album Review

Trisha Yearwood - Songbook
MCA Records

Greatest hits albums are unique. While looking back on a artists past with a collection of hits, you also get a look into the future with a couple of new tracks. Trisha Yearwood has established herself as one of the most dominating female vocalists in country music. With "Songbook: A Collection Of Hits", not only do we look back at where she is been but we get to hear her promising future.

The new music found on this album surely won't disappoint. The first single ended up as theme song on the major motion picture "Con Air". "How Do I Live" turned out to be one of Trisha's biggest hits and how appropriate that it was recorded on her greatest hits album. The long awaited duet with Garth Brooks has finally happened. "In Another's Eyes", the current single is powerful duet about never dying love that is destined to be a number one. The final new track, a upbeat rocker, "Perfect Love" will probably be a single and I would predict to see it receive the same response as the previous two. I haven't seen material this strong on a hits disc is a very long time.

When we look at the selection of hits I found a few disappointments which lead to a one star markdown. You won't find any tracks from Trisha's 1996 release "Everybody Know" ("Believe Me Baby (I Lied) and "Everybody Knows" weren't hits?). There is no "Better Your Heart Than Mine", or the smash sequel to her debut single back in '91 "That's What I Like About You". I have never understood why you can't take a hits album and add three or four more tracks to it and make it truly complete.

You will find songs like "She's In Love With The Boy" and "XXX's And OOO's (An American Girl) and pretty much every other major hit (minus the ones listed in the previous paragraph). When listening to this album you don't doubt for a minute why Trisha is as big as she is.

Trisha Yearwood has become a major star due to her powerful vocals and heartfelt songs. This album serves as a great introduction to her work and you couldn't really ask for much more. This one is a winner.

Album Review by Jeff Krasky

The WOC Rating Scale

The album stands above the rest. This is a record that every country music fan needs to have in their collection.

This album is better than the average release. A strong record with some flaws that keep it from reaching that 5 star level.

This album is an average country release. Doesn't posses qualities that make it stand out among all the other albums out there.

A weak record that lacks solid songs or good vocal performances. Sample before you buy.

This record is a bargin-bin reject that just isn't worth the time or the money. Completely misses the mark.