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Oct 28, 2011If he's reaching the end of his storied career, or even just playing around with the idea of closing off his legacy, he's also managing to keep things fresh and add to his lengthy list of memorable songs.
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Oct 5, 2011This winning formula should keep you around for quite a while.
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Entertainment WeeklySep 29, 2011There's plenty of party-startin' on the country king's latest, but Good Time contains some trademark Strait talk, too. [Sep 2011, p.137]
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Sep 9, 2011There's no fuss to his performance. He leans into the most desperate lines and nearly lets his voice crack, all in the service of the thing he's always been best at--making a heavyweight song hit home.
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Sep 6, 2011At this point he's most genuine when being reasonable, wistful, reassuring or grateful.
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Sep 6, 2011Most of the rest of the material is classic Strait-style lite country, his eminently easygoing tenor effortlessly handling songs that skim the surface rather than plumb the depths of life. In doing so, at least he keeps the promise of the album's title.
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Sep 6, 2011If the livelier numbers initially make the strongest impression -- whether it's Al Anderson's sunny pop opener "Love's Gonna Make It Alright" or a pair of fleet-footed blues in "Lone Star Blues" and "Blue Marlin Blues" -- it's the introspective moments that anchor the album and lend it a measure of gravity.
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Sep 6, 2011It's this willingness to take some calculated risks with his trademark sound and to develop his voice as a songwriter that makes Strait's most recent run the richest and most rewarding of his career, and Here for a Good Time is both a good time and a new peak for Strait.
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Sep 6, 2011King George isn't breaking new ground, but Here for a Good Time doesn't threaten his crown.