There's nothing wrong with commercialism, even if you make a lot of radio friendly songs. The problem with MOST of Montgomery's past material is that nearly none of his songs have anything really different, or daring beyond a hoot and hollar. A few tunes on the fair album "John Michael Montgomery" are sure good, but overall it can't top this album here. A major surprise comes right at the start. 'Ain't Got Nothin' On Us' is very traditional, with an honest country fiddle, nice dobro, and ol' western piano. He's very relaxed singing a song of great comparisions between historical lovers and the big love he's got for the girl. Simple, sweet, and a really well recorded tune. Again, another surprise comes up as he relenquishes (this being his first on an album) a fine self-penned country tune 'A Few Cents Short'. 'Lucky Arms' finds us listening to a good ol' boy two step, while 'Paint The Town Rednceck' gets a bit messy but still gets the town to dance. John has a knack for getting the girls to cry, or sigh when it comes to love songs. Every album of his has plenty of these, and 'Friends' gets a better mark than any one of them. Finally, a song that doesn't climb mountains while ropin' the stars. What hurts more than a woman you love says that you'll still be friends? She's still around, and you're still in love. Ow! Low key, yet a great break up song. His father passed away around the time he was recording this disc. He picked up his pen, along with two friends to write and record 'I Miss You A Little'. There's no need to fix up an anthology to express how he misses his dad: an empty chair he once sat in: playing guitar alongside him. So much already said. This album has one more surprise with a turn of sound and music choice: regardless, it fits him to a tee, and we wish that songs like 'How Was I To Know', with it's tight wrangler guitar and Montgomery's huskier vocals, could pop up on his other albums. Tough and romantic at the same time, he goes further with his voice, and what a song it makes. A disapponting throw away is 'I Can Prove You Wrong'. Montgomery really tries to make such a crumb of a song, more. It won't even get more than a D+ from me. The title track makes a passing grade, and that's it. Overall, it's a great album and the most traditional one he's recorded.


This is a very good album!   July 8, 1999
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

It is not as good as his previous effort, at least to me, because it has almost all ballads. While all the ballads are good, namely "Friends," "What I Do The Best," "I Can Prove You Wrong," the best one on there is the heart-wrenching tribute to his father, called "I Miss You A Little." I like the mid-tempo "A Few Cents Short," a very good Montgomery written composition. Most of the songs are great, and none of them are bad, which is more than I can say for other records I have heard recently. He is one top-notch act that has been around for quite awhile, and I have a feeling he will be around for many years to come.


Sentimentally slow   February 24, 2007
J. Suh (Milpitas, CA)
John Michael Montgomery is well known for his somber ballads and twangy rhythms. This album is no exception as it is full of sentimental ballads and a few of his more "twangy" country tunes. "I Miss You A Little" is a nice sentimental ballad in his usual style, and "Friends" is a ballad with a hint of sarcastic, dark humor mentality. "Friends" is a song about a man basically not wanting to hear a woman using the term "friends" as a way to avoid a romantic relationship. I think just about every breathing man has experienced that in their life at least once. Hear those lyrics and you'll find yourself cracking up a little bit... "How Was I To Know" was another enjoyable hit, and a few of his other tracks are quite catchy. While Montgomery isn't one of my favorite country singers, he actually does a good enough job on this album for me to listen to it fairly often. You should give this one a shot.


Good music   August 12, 2000
Ken Schoonover, Jr. (Springdale, AR United States)
I could give John Michael Montgomery's What I Do The Best five stars, because the songs are great. The toe-tapping "Ain't Got Nothin' on Us" is solid, as are "Friends", "How Was I To Know", "What I Do The Best", and John Michael's moving tribute to his father, "I Miss You A Little". Another great song is "A Few Cents Short". That song, along with "I Miss You A Little", was written by John Michael himself. However, this record, unlike John Michael's previous albums Kickin' It Up and John Michael Montgomery, is heavily weighted toward ballads. John Michael is a great ballad singer, but I also like to hear him sing upbeat songs such as "Be My Baby Tonight", "Sold", and "Cowboy Love". Fortunately, besides "Ain't Got Nothin' On Us", John Michael includes two other great upbeat songs, "Lucky Arms" and "Paint The Town Redneck", on this record. What I Do The Best is a solid collection with good music.