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George Strait
Twang
(MCA Nashville)
First Appeared in The Music Box, September 2009, Volume 16, #9
Written by John Metzger
Tue September 29, 2009, 06:30 AM CDT
In the world of mainstream country acts, nobody is better than George Strait.
He not only has the hits to prove it, but he also actually sounds authentic when
he sings. Lately, though, Strait has been somewhat lost and adrift. Although his
2006 album It Just Comes Natural was solidly delivered, it also contained
hints that he was growing weary of his usual routine. Strait tried to break free
from his customary formula with last year’s offerings: Troubadour and
Classic Christmas. Even by his admittedly crisp and clean standards,
however, the outings ultimately were too polished and pristine for their own
good. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Strait to reconnect with his Muse.
Although his latest set Twang bears the markings of a transitional
endeavor, it also undeniably finds him returning to his roots, albeit with more
vigor than he has shown in a while.
Strait has always had a knack for finding quality songs that mesh perfectly
with his vocal style. On Twang, he not only nabs two compositions from
Jim Lauderdale — the title track and I Gotta Get to You — but he also
offers his interpretation of Delbert McClinton’s Same Kind of Crazy. Too
often, though, Strait settles into his role as a balladeer. Twang surely
would have benefited from a few more honky-tonk odes to Hank Williams.
Nevertheless, as he demonstrates on Where Have I Been All My Life, Strait
remains remarkably good at finding the sentimental core of his material without
sounding absurdly sappy.
The big twist that Strait applies to Twang is that he has resumed
writing his own songs. This, of course, is a bold, ambitious move, especially
considering how long Strait has been stocking his albums with cover material.
Unfortunately, his tunes — the first ones he has penned since 1982 — struggle
melodically and lyrically to hold their own against the rest of the tracks on
the endeavor. Even Strait’s longtime, hit-generating pal Dean Dillon can’t
salvage them. By contrast, Strait’s son Bubba manages to outshine his father. Arkansas Dave may follow closely in the footsteps of its predecessors, such
as the outlaw tales by John Phillips and Marty Robbins. Regardless, Bubba
Strait’s composition is compelling enough to easily surpass his dad’s cliché-addled,
lovelorn laments.
Most important, the songs on Twang are woven together to form a
loosely-knit, album-long theme that explores the relationship between fathers
and sons. The Breath You Take is a depiction of the circle of life, while
Arkansas Dave is a tale of revenge. Where Have I Been All My Life
is about finding one’s place and coming to appreciate the wisdom of an older
generation. The fact that Strait made the set with his son by his side further
cements the overarching concepts that serve as the touchstones for the endeavor.
It is, then, not coincidental that the elder Strait sounds so reinvigorated
and engaged on Twang. After all, he and his son have a lot to gain from
these sudden shifts in direction. Strait’s performance combined with the
strength of Twang’s other songs — which range from the mariachi
horn-kissed El Rey to the spry, Cajun-inflected bounce of Hot Grease
and Zydeco — allows him to overcome the deficiencies that emanate from his
underdeveloped writing style. At times, he is too tentative about leaving his
familiar environment, but for the most part, Strait uses Twang to push
down the walls that have confined him for years.  ½
Of Further Interest...
The Derailers - Genuine
Alan Jackson - Like Red on a Rose
Waylon Jennings - Love Songs
Twang is available from
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For Canadian orders, please
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For UK orders, please
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2009 The Music Box
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