by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Rascal Flatts sold more albums than any other country band of the 2000s, but even so, there's no denying that they're a quintessential singles act — which makes this first compilation of hits most welcome. Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 contains 13 tracks, which is enough to include all the major hits from &Praying for Daylight& to &What Hurts the Most& but not quite enough to cover every charting single they've had. Surprisingly, there are some pretty big hits like &Me and My Gang& and &Take Me There& missing, but their absence isn't enough to keep this from being a good collection of highlights from Rascal Flatts' first five albums. [That said, the bonus disc of three holiday tunes included in the initial pressings of the album is a bit too mercenary for its own good, emphasizing the holiday release of Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 more than the music.]