The Best of New Mexico Western

New Mexico has a population of under two million, but it sure seems like more than half of them play Country and Western—and do so very well, thank you very much. This two-CD compilation presents 48 of them in fine fiddle (or guitar or voice), showing their stuff. They include the usual suspects—relatively well-known folks like Rod Taylor, Kip Calahan and R.W. Hampton. But even the unknowns acquit themselves very admirably. Now what’s the other half of New Mexico up to? —Mark Boardman