CD Review
Artist: George Strait
Title: Troubadour
Label: Universal Music Canada
Released: April 1, 2008 

4 Stars

Reviewed By: Kristiana Barber (Calgary Correspondent - Canada) 

Years ago I found myself heading to a George Strait concert expecting to listen to a couple hours of hokey country music that I wouldn't know any of the words to. I was surprised to realize that the songs were incredibly familiar and I had spent my childhood listening to most of them on long car trips to Saskatchewan or British Columbia. I had a wonderful time at the show and gained insight into why George Strait is often described as country music royalty.  

Troubadour is the newest album to add to an extensive resume full of hit records and chart topping songs offered by George Strait over the years. The album has a lot to live up to and certainly it does not disappoint. With twelve tracks spanning a total of about thirty-six minutes, Troubadour is a mixture of heartfelt ballads, up-beat western sounds and even some good old honky-tonk country music. The most obvious hit among the bunch comes from the sincere ‘I Saw God Today.' From the first set of chords to the classic country music song ending the listener knows this track is meant to be played over and over on the radio. It is reminiscent of previous winners like ‘Check Yes or No', ‘You Know Me Better Than That', and ‘Love Without End, Amen' and is sure to tug at the hearts of even the most staunch cynics. The title track ‘Troubadour' works alongside other worthwhile offerings such as ‘Brothers Of The Highway' and ‘Make Her Fall In Love With Me Song' to ensure this CD is more than just one solid hit and some filler music.

My personal favorites on Troubadour are the less obvious ‘River of Love' and the toe-tapping ‘West Texas Town'. ‘River of Love' is the kind of tune that makes you want to jump in your car and head out on the highway in the summer sun in search of lazy days away from the city. Although at first glance the title makes one imagine a painfully cheesy love ballad, the song itself is upbeat and fun. Meanwhile ‘West Texas Town' features long time hit maker Dean Dillon and is the kind of song that makes it impossible to listen and keep still. It is the perfect blend of old-time country music spirit and instrumentals come together to form an intoxicatingly lively beat.  

Despite moments of adhering to the stereotypical country music cheese (lyrics such as "If heartaches were horses and hard times were cattle" from the final track ‘If Heartaches Were Horses') Troubadour is simply a pleasure to listen to. In a time when country music can often be mistaken for pop, George Strait succeeds once again in delivering a genuine and true to its genre album.
 

1. Troubadour
2. It Was Me
3. Brothers Of The Highway
4. River Of Love
5. House Of Cash feat. Patty Loveless
6. I Saw God Today
7. Give Me More Time
8. When You're In Love
9. Make Her Fall In Love With Me Song
10. West Texas Town feat. Dean Dillon
11. House With No Doors
12. If Heartaches Were Horses