VA - Pickin' On Alan Jackson (2002)

With instrumental covers of Nashville country star Alan Jackson's hits and one original composition inspired by his music ("Franklin Road"), Pickin' on Alan Jackson gives honky tonk and contemporary country the bluegrass makeover. Creative arrangements with guitar, mandolin, banjo, and dobro add a new angle to slick country tunes like "Livin' on Love" and "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow." But Pickin' on Alan Jackson lacks the inventive crossover appeal of other titles in the Pickin' On series, like Pickin' on the Who, Pickin' on the Black Crowes, and Pickin' on Lynyrd Skynyrd. Despite beautiful playing, it seems that Pickin' on Alan Jackson is dangerously close to the bluegrass version of Muzak. Hardcore bluegrass fans will be put off by the countrypolitan flavor, and fans of Alan Jackson, despite a nice traditional vocal by Cliff Wagner on "Murder on Music Row," will miss his voice.