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Totally Country Vol. 5

It's always hip to gripe about the state of country music, but this sampler of hits from the last three years suggests that this is actually a pretty good time to be a fan. This 17-track collection sports a smartly sequenced, forward-looking cross-section of songs that deservedly lit up country radio—alongside a few that should have, like Cowboy Troy's chugging "I Play Chicken With the Train." The tunes turn corny toward the middle, and the ballads at the end aren't as much fun, but for the most part, Totally Country Vol. 5 is totally cool.

• March 9, 2006