GEORGE STRAIT – “Twang” (Album Review)

Written by Greg VictorcloseAuthor: Greg Victor Name: Greg Victor
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About: Greg Victor (Parcbench Culture Editor) is a historian, pop culture critic, and theatrical dramaturg and has stage managed theatrical productions on Broadway and on tour, including Billy Joel's "Movin' Out", Monty Python's "Spamalot" and more.See Authors Posts (97) on August 14, 2009

Been wondering what album would finally replace Michael Jackson’s “Number Ones” as the top-selling CD this week? I predict it will be “Twang,” the new release from George Strait. If you liked the last 25 George Strait albums, you’ll like this one too.

Some critics accuse George Strait of making the same album time after time. Some call it formulaic; I call it reliable. The formula works. There’s nothing wrong with a guy who works with the same producer (the legendary Tony Brown) and musicians year after year.

Twang (the singing style) could possibly be George Strait’s great contribution to country music. “Twang” (the album) isn’t quite the greatest of his CDs, but I’ll gladly take it. No one puts out more quality music, more consistently than George Strait.

George never has to convince the listener that he is authentically country. He doesn’t have to prove he’s a country boy by asking God to bless the U.S.A…. or the broken road. Instead, he sings simple songs of experience, and with this album (for only the second time in his career) he also writes a few songs. “Living for the Night” is a song co-written by George, his son Bubba, and the dependable Dean Dillon. The haunting melody is matched perfectly by the lyric:

I’ve drawn all the curtains in this old house

To keep the sun out and off my face

Friends stop by to check-in ‘cause I’ve checked out

I tell ‘em I’m fine, I’m just livin’ for the night

After 28 years of recording, George is still willing to stretch artistically, as he offers up the first Spanish-language song he has ever recorded when he covers the Mexican folk song “El Rey.” He makes the song all his own with a fun country-mariachi delivery. And don’t forget – “El Rey” translates as “The King.” If the King of Pop had to fall off the top of the charts, who better than the King of Country Twang to do it?

Buy the album, but if you just want to add a few new country tunes to your library, these are the songs to download:

“Twang” – Capturing the lifted spirit of Buck Owens at his most playful, this one’s gonna make you want to get on the dance floor and shuffle your feet. It’s what every jukebox in every honky-tonk should sound like.

“Living for the Night” – The first single off the album, it captures the pain of regret at having let the good one go as only a George Strait ballad can.

“Arkansas Dave” – My favorite cut (written by George’s son Bubba), it has a groove that makes me wish Johnny Cash were still around to record a cover version.

George Strait just wrapped up his 2009 tour, but you can always rent “Pure Country” – his one starring film role. And if you like the movie, plan on visiting New York City in 2010 to see the new Broadway musical of the same name. It’ll be an updated version with George Strait sound-a-like Joe Nichols in the starring role opposite country queen Lorrie Morgan. I can’t wait to see “Broadway” Joe Nichols fill “King” George Strait’s boots live onstage.