It Just Comes Natural

George Strait

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 3, 2006)
• Original Release Date: October 3, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca Nashville
• ASIN: B000HCO8JA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,124 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When the announcement came that George Strait was to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, there were those who thought it was premature. After all, Strait is only in his early 50s, and with 53 #1s, more than anyone else in Nashville history, he is still an active working artist, not the sort who sits back on a million-acre ranch remembering when. But one spin through It Just Comes Natural and it's obvious why the quiet Texan deserved his induction now. He simply has no mainstream peer, for either his consistency on the charts or his continuing to raise the bar with his confident, nuanced performance. Here, on an album recorded in Key West, Strait sounds even more relaxed than usual, as if he took more time to live with the songs--15 in all--before he recorded them. Throughout, he amply demonstrates his ability to choose material that pushes the country genre beyond its core themes of God, family, and patriotism while still staying traditional. So many of the songs catch one off guard, either because of their different subject matter (the way the lyric of "Come on Joe" gradually tells us the dead never really leave the living) or in their sophisticated approach to a routine topic (the head-spinning recognition of an old flame in Bruce Robison's "Wrapped"). Then there's the artistry with which producer Tony Brown's handpicked studio cats elevate an already great song even higher (a sizzling cover of Guy Clark's folk/honky-tonk/Western swing classic "Texas Cookin'"). Twenty-five years after his recording debut, Strait is still as crisp as the crease in his Wranglers. Yet the leader of the Ace in the Hole band has yet another card up his freshly starched sleeve. The man who doesn't talk in concert and rarely speaks to reporters leads off with "Give It Away," a divorce-and-damage saga set off by--surprise--a recitation! --Alanna Nash

Product Description

For the first time, Strait recorded NATURAL in a new setting - Jimmy Buffett's Shrimpboat Studio in Key West, Florida, where Strait and Buffett recorded "Sea of Heartbreak," from Buffett's LICENSE TO CHILL album, a few years ago. "I thought it might be a good idea to try something different," says Strait. "You couldn't tell that we cut this down there, there's no island flavor at all, but we just had a blast doing it. The studio is probably the smallest I've ever been in, with the musicians all crammed back in a little room - but we got a great sound, and it's such a relaxing atmosphere. I think I'll probably go back again." Recorded once again with Strait's frequent co-producer, Tony Brown, the sounds on the album reflect Strait's characteristic blend of traditional country structures shot through with a healthy dose of honky-tonk spirit and Western swing. Moods range from the introspective "Come On, Joe," in which a man's late wife tells him to be strong and move ahead with his life, to the raucous "Texas Cookin'," which is about just what it sounds like. An array of Nashville's finest songwriters contributed to NATURAL, including Bill Anderson, Bruce Robison, Lee Roy Parnell, and Guy Clark. "This album's got fifteen songs, which is more songs than I've ever put on a record before," says George Strait. "But I thought they were all so good, there wasn't one song on here that I would have felt right about leaving off. I really think we came up with one of the best albums I've ever done." The album in question, titled IT JUST COMES NATURAL, is being released in a year that marks Strait's 25th anniversary as a recording artist, and coincides with the announcement that he is the most recent addition to the Country Music Hall of Fame. It's also coming out alongside the jaw-dropping news that George Strait has become the all-time leader for Number One Country singles, as the album's opening track, "Give It Away," recently became his 53rd song to top the charts.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE TITLE PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT ALL, January 12, 2007

By	D. McAllister "MRD" (Somewhere in the Field) - See all my reviews

Just when you think that George Strait will soon be taking up the rocking chair and disappearing "somewhere down in Texas" he lays another release out there that comes closes to...well...perfection. IT JUST COMES NATURAL is simply marvelous and the title pretty much says it all about arguably the greatest country singer of all time. Nothing goes wrong with this one but, then, that's an old story with Mr. Strait. Tell me the last time one of his albums went south? In fact, because of his excellence, he seems sometimes to be overlooked. Just another perfect day for George.

To overlook this album for any reason would be a mistake. One of the unique things about this offering is it has fifteen tracks. I went back and looked at my collection and discovered that, with few exceptions, George usually sticks to a simple ten. Maybe it used to be superstition for him. Maybe he thought that ten was a lucky number. Whatever the case, I'm glad he went with fifteen because, for the life of me, I can't say which of the tracks I'd leave out if ten were mandatory. Great stuff here.

The title track and "Give It Away" are wonderful but, as is often the case with Strait's albums, some of the other tracks become my favorites. In the case of this album "I Ain't Her Cowboy Anymore" has quickly become one of my all time favorite George Strait Songs. But then, as I have already noted, every track here is simply splendid. Give a listen. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

THE HORSEMAN

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than ever!, October 3, 2006

By	Kathleen - See all my reviews

I have played the entire cd and I can not get over how AMAZING George Strait sounds.
His voice sounds better and stronger than ever.
I love the new song (title song) and the entire cd. It is the best record he has put out in a long time. It's fantastic.
I love it!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, October 4, 2006

By	Mark A. Lawrence - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I own just about every GS CD. Every time he puts a new CD out it's a reminder to me why I love country music. His music never fails to put me in a good state of mind. His voice is still as good as ever with a great selection of songs. This CD sounds very fresh compared to his last couple CD's. It won't disappoint - buy it!