Country and pop ballads became virtually
indistinguishable during the 1990s, at least on the radio. This collection of "country" ballads, mostly from that period, even features a couple (Mark Chesnutt's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," John Michael Montgomery's "I Can Love You Like That") that were hits for pop artists. But the real problem is that these 18 tracks are among the most syrupy, soggy, saccharine love songs Nashville has ever produced. There are a few winners here, but they're buried in an overwhelming avalanche of schmaltz.

—Chris Neal