Eric R. Danton on George Strait

"In a career stretching more than 30 years, Strait has landed 44 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country chart and released 25 studio albums, two live records, eight compilations and five Christmas albums. That's 40 albums, 31 of which have sold more than 1 million copies. All told, he's sold more than 68 million records. Here's the secret to his success: Strait is Everyman. He picks solid songs with themes just about anyone can relate to, and he sings them with a hint of twang in his warm voice. His songs feel like home, and his latest, 'Twang' (MCA Nashville), is no different. He outlines his plan for the end of the work week on the rollicking 'Twang' (hint: there's a bar and a jukebox full of country tunes), marvels over meeting his romantic match on 'Same Kind of Crazy.' … Kicking butt with up-tempo songs is the easy part, but Strait delivers on the gutbucket side, too, wondering where the time went on the steel-soaked 'Where Have I Been All My Life,' and pouring out regrets on 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind.' Strait keeps alive country's long (but fading) storytelling tradition, too, with the grim-faced murder ballad 'Arkansas Dave,' saving a narrative twist for the end" ("CD Review," Sound Check, 8/10/09).