Alan Jackson was one of the leading lights of contemporary country music in the '90s and the key to his success is that he managed to be straightforwardly traditional without sacrificing his taste for slightly mawkish sentimentality. The first tendency got him respect, the second sold him records, and if the latter is emphasized on the 18-track Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, that's because that's what hit the charts, particularly as he settled into his role as a veteran during the second half of the '9...   [ read more ]

CD $9.49

Alan Jackson returned just months after the zeitgeist-defining, blockbuster success of "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," with his holiday album, Let It Be Christmas. Jackson has always been a bit of a traditionalist, but it's still kind of surprising just how traditional this album is, recalling seasonal records from the '50s and '60s instead of the glitzy, lavish productions of the '80s and '90s. This is a brilliant move, actually, since the warm, intimate arrangements that...   [ read more ]

CD $11.38

Anyone who doubts Alan Jackson's roots as a honky tonk singer should turn to Under the Influences, his heartfelt salute to his favorite country singers. According to his self-penned liner notes, Jackson has "always wanted to do this album," and that's evident from the songs he chose to cover. There are several hits here, but they're the kind that aren't regularly covered -- "Pop a Top," "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'," "Revenooer Man," "She Just Started Liking Cheatin' Songs," and {&"Once...   [ read more ]

CD $7.59