At barely past the 40 minute mark, George Strait's latest album, Here For A Good Time, is such a superb collection of songs, it is an objective lesson in songcraft and the humility of a man who puts all his gifts in the creation of an album.
The first song, "Love's Gonna make It Right" is a cool, romantic charmer about how love can make you whole again and the very next song, '"Drinkin' Man" is a perfect reverse image. A country tearjerker, a man battles his alcoholism to a stand still and then -it is a steel ballad with a slide guitar somewhere in the background. A little later there is a bad boy western swinger "Lone Star Blues" -another story song and a goodie in a long line.
Not enough? He throws in a spiritual whereby he discovers that "Three nails in a cross equals forgiveness"
Yeah, the stories keep on showing up from the title track where the good times come along because tomorrow he might die and the final track, the one place where you think his country maudlin gets the better of him, except the song is written for his audience.
Strait has never written that much of his own material, but he wrote 7 of these songs with his son. Which is touching in its own way.
Grade:A-