Greatest Hits, Volume 2 (DreamWorks Nashville, 2004)

Perhaps lost in the overblown flap over U.S. foreign policy with Dixie Chick Natalie Maines, is the fact that over the past three years no country artist has been any more consistently pleasing than Toby Keith. But just a once through on this new hits collection will provide a road map back to that inescapable truth.

There's a little something for everyone on these 14 cuts where all of his strengths are presented. For hardcore fans, there are two new songs, one reworked classic and two live versions of earlier hits. For everyone in-between, there's just a lot of good music. One of the new songs is current hit single "Stays in Mexico," which plays off the tourist theme used in commercials for Las Vegas. The classic is "Mockingbird," performed as a duet with 17-year-old daughter Krystal. She does a fine job of not being overwhelmed by Keith.

He had a hand in writing all but three of the tunes and while that aspect of his craft isn't any more subtle than his vocal delivery it is perfectly aligned to his public persona and to his audience. "Greatest Hits Volume 2" is without weakness from top to bottom.