Travis Tritt - The Rockin' Side - Music & Performance - CD

In February of 2002, Warner/Rhino offered up two Travis Tritt compilations, one spotlighting his "Rockin' Side," the other his "Lovin' Side." Titles don't come much clearer than that, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that both compilations deliver on their promise without straying from their template. Because they stick to a theme, neither has all of his hits, but that's not a problem since the selected hits -- in this case, tunes like "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" and "Ten Feet Tall and Bulletproof" -- are surrounded by sharp selections from his albums, giving each compilation a surprisingly well-rounded feel. Of the two, The Rockin' Side is superior because Tritt sounds livelier, freer, truer in this setting than he does crooning ballads, and the material is also far more consistent. Note that this really does take "rockin'" seriously, meaning that honky tonk numbers (and big hits) like "Country Club" and "Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)" are entirely absent, but those looking for either the "Rockin' Side" or "Lovin' Side" of Travis Tritt will find either volume satisfying. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide