Like spandex pants, pyrotechnics, and concept records, the power ballad is as essential to a proper hard-rockin' band as a mid-concert guitar or drum solo. Giving the band a moment to show its sensitive side was just as important as the hardest song on the album, striking a balance and making the music accessible to those who like a little love in their rock. A time-honored tradition since the '70s, this two-disc compilation is not just a reasonably priced two-disc session, it's an anthropological barometer mapping the evolution of the power ballad. Metal love song compilations come and go, but never has this song style been so meticulously documented so well. Every single important moment in the history of power ballads is included in this 30-song session. From its early origins from classic rock bands like Styx, Kiss, Nazareth, and Foreigner; to its prime time golden years as a crucial centerpiece in a hair metal band's oeuvre (Poison, Extreme, Warrant, etc.), it's all here. Songs that transcended hard-rocking FM stations to soft rock background stations and back again. Lacking filler completely, this is a collection that is essential for any serious fan of the song style that has touched so many lives. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide