Michael Franks - Michael Franks Anthology: Art of Love (2005)

With his sly, subtle blend of jazz, Brazilian music, and folk-rock, Michael Franks may be a bit of an acquired taste, which is why Rhino's double-disc, 31-track The Michael Franks Anthology: The Art of Love may not be the best way to get acquainted with his music -- there's simply to much to absorb at once. But for those who already have become a convert to his sophisticated soft pop, this is the ultimate anthology, providing an exhaustive but not exhausting overview of his Warner recordings from the mid-'70s to the mid-'90s. All the hits are here, along with a sharp selection of album tracks, pretty much rounding up all the highlights from his rich, extensive career. Diehards will still want the albums, but serious fans who want just one Michael Franks album will need this.