Choice Cuts: Best of Wayne Hancock

Since Wayne Hancock is still alive and well, making records, and touring America's finer honky tonks as of the spring of 2005, it seems more than a bit premature to call a collection of his work "Best Of." However, in 2001 Hancock departed Ark 21 Records for the more twang-friendly surroundings of the Bloodshot label, and this compilation devotes itself strictly to Wayne the Train's first three albums, released between 1995 and 1999 through Ark 21. Best Of isn't a particularly imaginative collection — the track listing is divided roughly evenly between Thunderstorms and Neon Signs, That's What Daddy Wants, and Wild, Free & Reckless, with no unreleased material or rare stuff included, minimal liner notes and credits, and a frankly unattractive package design. So if you're a loyal fan, you can pass this up with no guilt; on the other hand, if you're looking for a good introduction to Hancock's old-school swingin' honky tonk style, this features 14 great songs that cover the range of his music and his rough-hewn lyrical style just fine. Then again, given how consistent his work is, any of his albums will offer a fairly similar experience, but this still isn't a bad starter for honky tonk neophytes who want to hear one of the contemporary masters of the form. Then again, it's hard not to think Hancock deserves a better retrospective than this.