Keith Urban - Days Go By: Anthology (CD)

All Music Guide

Born in New Zealand but raised in Australia, Keith Urban established a base for himself in Nashville a decade or so ago, and while he certainly draws from country's long tradition in his music, he's infused it with a healthy dose of good old rock and roll attitude. This isn't something new in Nashville, mind you, but Urban also happens to be one heck of a guitar player and his seemingly boundless enthusiasm for what he does means his version of rocking country doesn't sound like a studied hybrid but instead appears as effortless and natural as the wind blowing down a freeway. Add to this Urban's refreshing optimism and songs like "Days Go By," "Somebody Like You" and "Better Life" explode out of the speakers like joyous new beginnings. Days Go By combines most of the tracks from 2004's Be Here with a few from 2002's Golden Road to make what amounts to an introductory anthology of Urban's recent work for Capitol Records.

- Steve Leggett , All Music Guide