Top Marks: His First 20 Hits

AMG Review of Top Marks: His First 20 Hits

Curtis Zimmermann
All Music Guide

Despite his rather lengthy major label recording career, Mark Chesnutt has never quite become a country superstar. His 20-track greatest-hits collection Top Marks acts more like a reminder of what his hits were rather than a compilation of his best work. These tracks show him at his best with traditional country tunes like "Too Cold at Home" and "Old Flames Have New Names" and at his blandest with suburban country-pop songs like "She Dreams." It is evident when listening to these songs (which are in chronological order) that Chesnutt never quite found his sound. He appears to be struggling for an identity between the music of artists like George Strait and Tim McGraw. Still with 20 songs this compilation is ideal for casual fans of his music. Those who already have his albums might want to skip this one because it contains no new material.