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CD Review: The Road Less Traveled - George Strait

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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke

What would you do if you are George Strait and your last CD wasn't nearly as successful as your previous efforts? Why you continue to pick ten tracks and change some things. The first change you'll notice about the CD is it's packaging. This is the first time that I can remember a George Strait CD not having his face front and center on the cover. George's twenty-seventh CD, The Road Less Traveled also happens to be his best CD since the Pure Country soundtrack. It is no easy feat being a man with over thirty million CD's sold to continually top your creativity year in and year out.

To liven up his sound a little bit, George and producer, and MCA boss, Tony Brown have put a contemporary feel into their music. On the first Single, "Run," they use some drum loops wrapped up in a sensuous guitar licks and mandolin with a touch of steel guitar.

"Stars On The Water" is really different. On the chorus, of this remake of the 1972 Rodney Crowell written hit, there is some voice distortion. I really like this fiddle infused song because of the distortion. The vocal distortion really makes this song catchy.

The Road Less Traveled
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There's some standard fare here as well. What you WON'T find is any hint of a Texas swing song. What is here however is a catchy collection of songs complete with dome excellent re-makes. George has always liked to remake at least one song a CD so he's keeping up with tradition here.

One of the remade songs is George's version of Merle Haggard's "My Life's Been Grand." With a fiddle infused shuffle beat. This is the type of track that George is known for and I really like it.

The title track is a probable single and a sure number one hit. While it has contemporary sounds, the fiddle interlude is awesome. The melody is sweet and the lyrics talk about staying off the beaten trail.

"Don't Tell Me You're Not In Love" first appeared on Jerry Kilgore's 1999 CD "Love Trip." Jerry, who sounds a lot like George did a fine job. George does a great job as well with this steel guitar laced song about a girl who is afraid to tell George how she really feels about their relationship.

If you want a George Strait CD, but do not know were to start, try here.

Song List:

  1. She'll Leave You With a Smile
  2. Run
  3. Stars on the Water
  4. Living and Living Well
  5. Real Thing
  6. Don't Tell Me You're Not in Love
  7. Road Less Traveled
  8. Middle of Nowhere
  9. Good Time Charley's
  10. My Life's Been Grand

All graphics © Shelly Fabian, except the album cover, used with permission of MCA Nashville.

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