Music CD Review: NOW That's What I Call Country Ballads

Country's Most Romantic Contemporary Hits Collected for Special Valentine's Release by World's Best-Selling Music Compilation Brand

The world's best-selling, multi-artist album series, NOW That's What I Call Music!, released a special new collection of country music's most romantic contemporary hits on January 24th.  NOW That's What I Call Country Ballads is available on CD, and for digital download purchase, from all major digital service providers.

NOW That's What I Call Country Ballads features 18 major chart hits from today's hottest Country Music artists, including Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Marina McBride, Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean/Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Chris Young, Darius Rucker, George Strait, and Alan Jackson.  NOW Country Ballads follows the first four volumes of the Country Music chart-topping NOW That's What I Call Country series.

The NOW That's What I Call Music! series is a joint venture from EMI Music North America, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group.  NOW That's What I Call Country Ballads will be distributed by EMI Music North America.  NOW and NOW That's What I Call Music! are registered trademarks of EMI (IP) Limited. After 15 years of multi-platinum international success, the NOW That's What I Call Music! series debuted in the U.S. in 1998.  The series has generated sales exceeding 200 million albums worldwide, including more than 80 million copies in the U.S.  Every album in the numeric U.S. series has reached Billboard's Top 10, and 15 NOW releases have reached #1, second only to The Beatles in chart history.

NOW That's What I Call Country Ballads (CD, digital) Tracks:

1.  Taylor Swift	Forever And Always (Piano Version)
2.  Keith Urban	Tonight I Wanna Cry
3.  Rascal Flatts	What Hurts The Most
4.  The Band Perry	If I Die Young
5.  Martina McBride	I'm Gonna Love You Through It
6.  Luke Bryan	Do I
7.  Jake Owen	Don't Think I Can't Love You
8.  Lady Antebellum	American Honey
9.  Jason Aldean/Kelly Clarkson	Don't You Wanna Stay
10.  Shania Twain	Forever & For Always
11.  Carrie Underwood	I Told You So
12.  Sara Evans	I Could Not Ask For More
13.  Kenny Chesney	Better As A Memory
14.  Dierks Bentley	Come A Little Closer
15.  Chris Young	The Man I Want To Be
16.  Darius Rucker	Don't Think I Don't Think About It
17.  George Strait	I Saw God Today
18.  Alan Jackson	Remember When

My Thoughts:

I was excited when I received a copy of this CD in the mail, as I a huge country music fan.  Prior to settling down I had traveled to Nashville, TN for their annual Fan Fair event, which is for country music singers and fans to come together for concerts, fan club parties, meet and greets and so much more.  But, after I married and moved to CT, I was only able to listen country music through albums I bought online or in stores, as we didn't have country music channels on the radio which came in where I lived.  Even though I don't get country music channels in while driving, I can brag about attending country fairs each summer here in CT, where up and coming and popular country acts perform on the main stage.  I have seen She Daisy, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, and so many others, since moving here in 2007.

So, when I played this CD through in its entirety during a recent trip to visit my parents with the girls, I was impressed with the songs that were chosen for this album.  Each and every song has been and continues to be country fan favorites, and are played on radio stations nationwide.  I especially loved how they included country chart topping hits from over the years, giving listeners varying sounds and styles, that continue to develop and evolve with today's country stars, as well with legends in country. 

Even though I enjoyed listening to each and every track on this CD, there have been a few tracks that have become favorites and that I hit replay on, including George Strait's, "I Saw God Today,", The Band Perry's, "If I Die Young, and Rascal Flatt's ever popular, "What Hurts the Most."  I was surprised to not see a songs from Tim McGraw, Faith Hill or Trace Adkins.  I guess I will have to wait until another CD in this series for songs from these artists.

If you are a country music fan, or just love ballads, you definitely have to check out this new release from NOW That's What I Call Music!  It would make a great addition to your music collection!

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Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this CD from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.