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George Strait has been so good for so long that it's easy to take him for granted, and Somewhere Down in Texas -- his 28th album, if you're keeping score -- is the kind of album that's easy to take for granted, since its scope and scale are so modest. Which isn't to say that it's dull: it's just that it's such a low-key, assured album, it's easy to overlook the craft and skill involved in its production, particularly because Strait always makes his music sound so effortless. He never changes, always staying within the confines of pure country, but part of his genius is that he has an excellent ear for material, picking songs that uphold the hardcore country traditions of George Jones and Merle Haggard yet feel fresh and contemporary. He also knows how to group these songs together, sustaining a mood throughout a full album. If 2003's Honkytonkville was a lean, tough honky tonk record, this 2005 sequel is its more sedate, introspective flip side. There are still moments that are pure honky tonk -- from the mid-tempo anthem "If the Whole World Was a Honky Tonk" to the quick two-step "High Tone Woman" -- but this is a gentle, nostalgic, ballad-heavy affair that takes its tone from Strait's terrific cover of Hag's sweet, lazy (and often overlooked) "The Seashores of Old Mexico." It's a warm, occasionally bittersweet, often soothing collection of perfectly pitched, reflective tunes, ranging from the clever breakup tale "She Let Herself Go" and the Lone Star valentine "Texas" to the excellent slow duet with Lee Ann Womack, "Good News, Bad News." Again, there's nothing new or surprising here, but it's a completely satisfying listen thanks to the strong material, sustained mood, and Strait's unhurried, confident performance. These have been hallmarks of Strait's work throughout the decades, and they haven't let him down yet, nearly 30 years and 30 albums into his career, as Somewhere Down in Texas proves.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Bryan Simpson, ComposerLyricist - Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Wade Kirby, ComposerLyricist - Ashley Gorley, ComposerLyricist - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Recording Engineer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nathan, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville
Charlie Black, ComposerLyricist - Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - The Nashville String Machine, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - BERGEN WHITE, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nathan, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carl Gorodetzky, Unknown, Other - STEVE GIBSON, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Tim Ryan Rouillier, ComposerLyricist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dana Hunt Black, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville
Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Rhodes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Nashville String Machine, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - BERGEN WHITE, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Nylon-String Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nathan, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Merle Haggard, ComposerLyricist - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carl Gorodetzky, Unknown, Other - STEVE GIBSON, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Strait, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Stuart Duncan, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Rodriguez, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - The Nashville String Machine, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - BERGEN WHITE, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Cochran, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Assistant Mixer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carl Gorodetzky, Unknown, Other - STEVE GIBSON, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Vicki Hampton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Tidwell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Bailey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Cory Mayo, ComposerLyricist - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jaime Babbit, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leslie Satcher, ComposerLyricist - Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nathan, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Glenn Worf, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - STEVE GIBSON, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Tidwell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Tim Ryan Rouillier, ComposerLyricist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville
Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Dale Dodson, ComposerLyricist - The Nashville String Machine, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MARCANTONIO, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - BERGEN WHITE, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Sutton, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carl Gorodetzky, Unknown, Other - STEVE GIBSON, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Tidwell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DEAN DILLON, ComposerLyricist - LEE ANN WOMACK, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville
Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Buddy Brock, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jeff Silvey, ComposerLyricist - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nathan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - STEVE GIBSON, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richie Biggs, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Monty Holmes, ComposerLyricist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville
Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Phillip White, ComposerLyricist - Steven Dale Jones, ComposerLyricist - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nathan, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richie Biggs, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville
Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Clint Daniels, ComposerLyricist - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nathan, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Martin, ComposerLyricist - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - STEVE GIBSON, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Tidwell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville
Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nathan, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Kerry Kurt Phillips, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Tidwell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DEAN DILLON, ComposerLyricist - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Walt Aldridge, ComposerLyricist - Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - Wes Hightower, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leslie Richter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL WHITE, ComposerLyricist - Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brent Mason, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Hanson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nathan, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Brown, Producer - Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Bayers, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KYLE LEHNING, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Casey Wood, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - CHUCK AINLAY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - STEVE GIBSON, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Tidwell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Strait, Producer, MainArtist - Marty Slayton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Bullock, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 MCA Nashville
Album review
George Strait has been so good for so long that it's easy to take him for granted, and Somewhere Down in Texas -- his 28th album, if you're keeping score -- is the kind of album that's easy to take for granted, since its scope and scale are so modest. Which isn't to say that it's dull: it's just that it's such a low-key, assured album, it's easy to overlook the craft and skill involved in its production, particularly because Strait always makes his music sound so effortless. He never changes, always staying within the confines of pure country, but part of his genius is that he has an excellent ear for material, picking songs that uphold the hardcore country traditions of George Jones and Merle Haggard yet feel fresh and contemporary. He also knows how to group these songs together, sustaining a mood throughout a full album. If 2003's Honkytonkville was a lean, tough honky tonk record, this 2005 sequel is its more sedate, introspective flip side. There are still moments that are pure honky tonk -- from the mid-tempo anthem "If the Whole World Was a Honky Tonk" to the quick two-step "High Tone Woman" -- but this is a gentle, nostalgic, ballad-heavy affair that takes its tone from Strait's terrific cover of Hag's sweet, lazy (and often overlooked) "The Seashores of Old Mexico." It's a warm, occasionally bittersweet, often soothing collection of perfectly pitched, reflective tunes, ranging from the clever breakup tale "She Let Herself Go" and the Lone Star valentine "Texas" to the excellent slow duet with Lee Ann Womack, "Good News, Bad News." Again, there's nothing new or surprising here, but it's a completely satisfying listen thanks to the strong material, sustained mood, and Strait's unhurried, confident performance. These have been hallmarks of Strait's work throughout the decades, and they haven't let him down yet, nearly 30 years and 30 albums into his career, as Somewhere Down in Texas proves.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:39:37
- Main artists: George Strait
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: MCA Nashville
- Genre: Country
© 2005 MCA Nashville ℗ 2005 MCA Nashville
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