The Best of the Mavericks

Entertainment Weekly (12/17/99, p.87) - "...this joyous set has some stylish ensemble work for any genre and speaks well for '90s country..." - Rating: B

The Mavericks were one of the most acclaimed country bands of the '90s and, for a brief moment, they were among the most popular. With their third album, What a Crying Shame, they were at the zenith of their creative powers, and they were rewarded with great reviews and sales. They maintained a high level of creativity with its two follow-ups, 1995's Music for All Occasions and 1998's Trampoline, but their audience shrank somewhat, turning into a cult following much like Lyle Lovett's -- they were popular, going gold with their new albums, but they didn't have crossover hits. That was a crying shame, because as the 1999 singles collection Super Colossal Smash Hits of the 90's: The Best of the Mavericks proves, they kept a high level of quality. That doesn't mean that Super Colossal is a perfect collection, however. Like most '90s hits compilations, it's baited with unreleased material. Usually, that means there's just one or two new cuts. This time, there are no less than four new tracks, which means there are only eight hits on the record. The new material -- including covers of "Here Comes My Baby" and "Think of Me (When You're Lonely)" -- isn't bad, and the Tex-Mex-flavored "Pizziricco," in particular, is pretty good, but the fact that a quarter of the album is devoted to new material means that there's a lot of good stuff missing here. Still, it's a good roundup of the best of the best, and a nice reminder to casual fans who haven't paid attention since What a Crying Shame that the Mavericks have a lot more to offer. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine