Hits Alive is a somewhat misleading title for Brad Paisleys first career overview, suggesting that its nothing but a live album when it instead pairs a disc of studio hits with a disc of concert recordings culled from his 2010 H20 Tour. Over the course of these two discs and 25 tunes, almost all of Paisleys Top Ten country hits appear in some fashion — the main omissions are 2001s Wrapped Around and 2009s Welcome to the Future, both of which peaked at number two, while Alcohol, Mud on the Tires, and Online appear on both discs — which is enough to make this a representative introduction to Paisleys sharply updated traditionalist country, particularly because the live disc also gives him some room to roam instrumentally, showcasing the fiery guitar skills that are as distinctive as his dry sense of humor. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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