Critics have always been singularly unkind to Jimmy Buffett. Or at least they have since the singer became immune to their jabs, commanding a nation of Parrotheads who sell out his shows, snap up his records and books, and eat and drink in his nightclubs in Key West and New Orleans. By now, you've made up your mind as well: To paraphrase Buffett himself from his song "Volcano," you either lava him now, or you lava him not. Songs You Know by Heart is a friendly little best-of collection that features concert perennials such as "Margaritaville," "Fins," "Cheeseburger in Paradise," and the immutable "Why Don't We Get Drunk." If by some chance you've not yet been introduced to Buffett's music, this album is the best way to say hello. --Daniel Durchholz
More Albums by Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett "Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads"
$44.48
When Jimmy Buffett eventually becomes the subject of a college course--and given his enduring popularity as a singer-songwriter and author, you know he will someday--here's what'll be on the final exam. Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads is so named because the four-CD collection divides Buffett's collected works among those categories, giving each disc a theme. From early classics such as "Biloxi" and "Come Monday" to more recent fare known only by the Parrothead cognoscenti, this set is the perfect accompaniment to a cool drink and a hammock on a summer afternoon. What kind of cool drink? Well, that'll be on the final, too. --Daniel Durchholz
