Best Of... So Far

The first Kevin Fowler compilation The Best Of…So Far whittles down the Texan troubadour’s five-album catalog to 18 tracks of lean hardcore country. Fowler’s specialty is Texan roadhouse country, heavy on humor and songs about beer. He’s capable with a ballad but better when the tempo has a kick; it brings out the muscle in his band and accentuates the sly humor that characterizes his best tunes: “Beer Season,” “Señorita Mas Fina,” “The Lord Loves the Drinkin’ Man,” “Pound Sign,” and “Don’t Touch My Willie.” A compilation like this reveals just how reliable Fowler has been: he may not innovative, but he’s a dependable purveyor of good, solid Texas country. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine