George Strait - Troubadour
Released: April 01, 2008
Produced by: Tony Brown & George Strait
Label: MCA Nashville
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If you record the best record of you're career, one could say there's something in the water. Right? Well then, why not just return to the place where the water is fine? That's exactly what the King of Country, Hall of Famer George Strait and his long-time producer Tony Brown did. For his 37th, yes, 37th album, Strait and Brown headed to the Florida Key's and Jimmy Buffet's studio to record what will easily be his next platinum record.

Troubadour features some of the finest cuts Strait has ever put on record. The album starts with the title track, featuring fellow Hall of Famer Vince Gill on backups. Strait says the story in "Troubadour" fits [his] whole career from start to finish." While the song may not have a solid pitch, Gill and Strait sound great together. Sit back, because Strait couldn't have followed up his CMA Album of the Year winner It Just Comes Natural any better.

Let me predict that there will be four more smash singles from this album after "I Saw God Today" -"It Was Me," "House of Cash," "Make Her Fall In Love With Me Song," and "House With No Doors." For me, these are the strongest cuts on the album. "It Was Me" is a typical Strait cut we've all come to love, "Make Her Fall In Love With Me Song" is a honky-tonk smash that harkens back to Strait's early days (great for summer, too, with its fast tempo), and "House With No Doors" is the perfect midtempo ballad to release from the album, though I didn't quite get the lyrics.

Yes, I've forgotten one of the songs, but it deserves its own paragraph. "House of Cash" is the cut of the record. CMA Musical Event of the Year - I'm calling it! Man, do Strait and Patty Loveless sound spectacular together! I was surprised they cut an uptempo track, but boy, country doesn't get better. Loveless sounds great (man, is she missed!) and I'm really impressed by the Cash hooks.

There really isn't a raw cut on the record. "Brothers On A Highway" gets a big thumbs up from me (another classic Strait cut), "River of Love" really is a different sound for Strait, but he sounds great anyway, and the Dean Dillon collaboration "West Texas Town" is sure to have you two-steppin' you're way out of Wal-Mart. Right now, I'm not a big fan of "Give Me More Time," although it has a Mexican feel that reminds me of a favorite, "Seashores of Old Mexico."

I do have to give a rave review for the last track on the album - "If Heartaches Were Horses." I do admit, the song is probably a tad slow for today's radio, but I think this is one of, if not the, most solid ballads he has cut in the last few albums. Slow and mild, the song paints a wonderful picture that fits Strait's cowboy image to a T. Better left as an album cut, though, I'm afraid.

Just one suggestion for Strait - make the album longer. I felt like I had the album down in a half hour. But please - keep going heavy on the steel and loud with the fiddles. For today's country atmosphere, it really doesn't get any better. Strait, you sound great buddy. Keep it coming for years to come!

VERDICT: Must-have record of 2008!
GRADE: A-
I SUGGEST..: "Brothers on a Highway," "House of Cash (w. Patty Loveless)," "West Texas Town"

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Boy, when I heard that Heidi Newfield was leaving Trick Pony, I was actually excited for her. I think she is an underrated vocal in this town and was being held back by the lagging success of the group. So naturally, hearing that she had a new single, I was anxious to hear what direction her solo music would take.

After "Pour Me," "On A Mission," "It's A Heartache," I was expecting a wonderful vocal performance. And, with Trick Pony's rocking sound, I was also expecting a boot-kickin' romper. I got neither with Newfield's "Johnny and June."

The song is full of cliches ("There's something about a man in black") from the very beginning, including mentions of Jackson, Cadillacs, love on stage.. please. If the writers had meant to be clever, they come over more desperate and idiotic.

After the onslaught of songs that deal with artists ("Tim McGraw," "Johnny Cash"), I have to say that I was not all that apprehensive about the song title. Johnny and June, afterall, had some pretty kickin' music. But in my opinion, Newfield needed to come out swinging. For all those Trick Pony fans that are now left in the dust after Ira Dean announced he, too, was leaving, she had a great opporotunity to pick up a steady following. I doubt "Johnny and June" does that. Her vocal performance is dull at best with no real shining moments, and sadly, the music arrangement is just too predictable.

Shame, too, because Heidi Newfield really is, or was, one of the best. Maybe this is just single choice. Let's hope the next single from the former lead singer puts Newfield back in the driver seat.

OVERALL GRADE: D+