Now That's What I Call Country

iTunes Review

Most of us know someone who claims they like "everything but country." If they don't know that country and pop are getting more difficult to differentiate, this compilation of 2008 spring/summer country hits could change their minds — partially because of the stellar selection of songs and also because when you include a whopping 20 tunes, a few of them are bound to be too catchy to deny. "All American Girl" is one such song, introducing the collection with Carrie Underwood singing soulfully about the rite of passage known as parenthood. Sugarland's "Stay" is an undeniably moving ballad, and not just because the rootsy verses recall the melody to The Rolling Stones' "Shine A Light." Luke Bryan's "All My Friends Say" shifts gears with a guitar-heavy, twang-rocking, drinking song that anyone who is gearing up to get down on some weekend nightlife can relate to.  Dierks Bentley's powerful "Trying To Stop Your Leaving" can connect with everyone who hates bidding farewell to a loved one, and Keith Urban's "Everybody" is so moving that it should have bookended this compilation instead of Jason Michael Carroll's "Alyssa Lies," a good song wrapped in a bummer of a subject about child abuse.