Montgomery Gentry
's first compilation,
Something to Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005
is an excellent, concise collection of highlights from the duo's first four albums. For some, it may be a little too concise, since its tight 13-track running length means that there are a handful of charting singles that didn't make the cut -- four to be precise, with three of them dating from 2000 and 2001 (
"All Night Long,"
"Self Made Man,"
and
"Cold One Comin' On,"
with 2004's
"You Do Your Thing"
being the other charting single from 1999-2005 that's missing). While there may be a few fans that will lament the absence of these tunes, it's otherwise hard to find fault with this fine compilation, since it not only contains the duo's biggest hits -- including
"Daddy Won't Sell the Farm,"
"Lonely and Gone,"
"She Couldn't Change Me,"
"My Town,"
"Speed,"
"Gone,"
"Hell Yeah,"
"If You Ever Stop Loving Me,"
"Something to Be Proud Of"
-- but the new song
"She Don't Tell Me To"
is solid, helping to make this hits collection an entertaining listen in its own right. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine