The storytelling precision of Steve Forbert shines brightly on this generous collection of his finest songs, answering the interrogative title What Kinda Guy? with 19 tracks. From the addictive piano melody of "Romeo's Tune" off of Jackrabbit Slim to the philosophical "Thinkin" from Alive on Arrival, the exuberance and grit of Forbert is well represented through each and every song. The five unreleased songs, four of them live, are wonderful add-ons, especially the juvenile flair of "Schoolgirl" and the compelling honesty of "Complications." Forbert's humble character and boyish simplicity sparks a yearning deep down inside anyone who pays close attention to his unpretentiousness. Bits and pieces of life's hardships and tribulations weave themselves through his yarns in ballads and in the energetic jangle of his guitar. Ending with the realistic "It Isn't Gonna Be That Way," listeners are left with a loneliness and a coziness, intermingled by way of Forbert's folk-roots approach. This set is a superb gathering of tunes from this underestimated singer.