George Strait - Always Never the Same

George Strait's work in the '90s is like a hall of mirrors: each new million-seller mirrors the previous million-seller, which mirrors the one that came before. And yet the master's touch never fails, and the music charms and sometimes thrills. Drawing again on his steady stable of writers--Jim Lauderdale, Dean Dillon, Steve Bogard, and Jeff Stevens--and adding Melba Montgomery's careful pen, Strait's latest is a fitting end to a decade he helped define for country music. The material isn't especially impressive given the routine, radio-safe themes, and Strait's band--the crème de la crème of Nashville (Randy Scruggs, Stuart Duncan, Paul Franklin)--plays impeccably but with little distinction. Still, even the middling material, delivered in Strait's lush, plangent tenor, has hit potential. Except for the two-beer ballad "That's the Truth" (one to drink, one to cry into), which explores the borders of deception and honesty, and the soaring, climactic "Meanwhile," which very convincingly weaves reality and fantasy, Always Never the Same is good but never great, consistent but never classic. --Roy Kasten Amazon.com

strait away..

It was good, but not as good as some of the previous ones. George always entertains, however, he is beginning to be repetitive. February 18, 2008

It's Good, But George Is Losing Grip

As a George Strait fan, I have seen many a singer come and go.
George has stayed at the top for over 20 years, which is not easy for anyone these day's.
This album is a good album, but it does have some exceptions.
While there are still some traditional country songs on this album, like "That's The Truth" and "4 Minus 3 Equals Zero", George has let himself be sold into the "Nashville Sound" market.
Unfortunately, like many "country stars" that start traditonal, end up on the other side of the fence, and let's money do the talking instead of sticking to their roots.
Hopefully one day George will go back recording traditional songs like he is well known for.
July 12, 2005

"WRITE THIS DOWN" AN EXCELLENT GEORGE CD

This particular CD is excellent(Although it does not have western swing music on it), and although not quite as good as mid 80s- early 90s George, it is still an great CD, with songs such a "Write This Down", "Meanwhile", the title track, "4 minus 3 Equals Zero", and the best of all "One Of You" getting 10/10 stars, and no weak tracks, means "Write This Down", you have another excellent GS CD. January 2, 2005

A Must for George Strait fans

I have been a George Strait fan for many years..I have most of the Cds that he put out, but this Cd he has made is a wonderful collection of George's songs. June 28, 2003

Still another excellent record from George

Though I didn't become a big fan of George Strait until I saw him in the movie Pure Country, I think George has put out some excellent records. His '99 album Always Never The Same is no exception.

The record's initial hit single, "Meanwhile", is a classic George Strait country song. The waltzing tempo on the song is reminiscent of one of George's early hit songs, "You Look So Good In Love", although "Meanwhile" is a bit slower. And what would an album by George be if it didn't have at least one lost-love song on it? Besides "Meanwhile", this record includes two other songs with the lost-love theme, "That's The Truth" and "4 Minus 3 Equals Zero", with the latter song having the added dimension of a marital breakup.

A Strait album is not all cry-in-your-beer, though. On this album, "Write This Down", "One Of You", and the title song "Always Never The Same" are fun, up-tempo songs that I think will be danced to on a lot of dance floors. Furthermore, George has three positive love songs on this record: "I Look At You", "That's Where I Wanna Take Our Love", and "What Do You Say To That". This is a listenable, well-put-together album, like practically everything George has done. George has still another excellent record in Always Never The Same. March 24, 2002

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