There is only one place to start with “Honky Tonk Time Machine”.
The last track.
“Sing One With Willie”, is not only a duet with Willie Nelson, it also has perhaps the finest rhyming couplet you are going to hear this year.
At one point, in the second verse, it manages to rhyme “totally gracious” with “Julio Iglasias”. Now, I am not going to lie to you, if I’d done that – never mind duetted with Willie Nelson – I’d consider my work complete and I’d moonwalk out of the studio high-fiving as I went.
Which is kinda what George Strait does here, in fairness.
The thing is, though, that they call George Strait the King Of Country music. With good cause too.
Almost 70, Strait has almost as many country number one hits. This is his 30th record since releasing his debut in 1981 and over 100,0000 turned up to watch him play a gig in Texas a few years ago.
That, to be honest, means he could probably sing the names in the Nashville phone book and the good people of America and elsewhere will lap it up – and there are, to be equally truthful – a couple of moments on “…Machine” that sounds like country by the numbers, but goodness me, when its good, this is superb.
“Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” is one that fits in that category, classy, catchy and sassy, “Two More Wishes” adds a bit of a Latin flavour, but you’d best believe that George can write a hook. And he can convey emotion too. The dark balladry of “Some Nights” sees his trademark deep vocals mix with some fabulous Lap Steel.
There is no doubt too, of the one that Strait gravitated straight to. “God And Country Music” is an anthem, no doubt to those in “the small towns” that it references, but it encapsulates the two extremes of the music too. “It’s a dance between the sin and the salvation” is an interesting muse, and the harmony vocals here are appropriately divine.
“Blue Water” is interesting, in that it wraps its tale of looking for an escape from something (everything?) around a gorgeous, summery tune, while “Sometimes Love” is a slice of acoustic – and uniquely American – balladry and “Take Me Away” is a fun slice of rock n roll.
Those words also apply to the title track. It does, as they say, exactly what it says on the tin, and is such a bullseye it must’ve been like shooting fish in a barrel.
12 of these are originals. The one that isn’t “Old Violin”, is Strait’s take on Outlaw pioneer, Johnny Payheck’s track, and at its end, it pauses for reflection. “this old violin, and I are just alike” he says – he doesn’t sing the line – “we gave our all to music and soon we’ll give our life…..” and that perhaps shows how much of Strait is in this album.
There’s a few moments, that in truth are just bit too saccharine . “Weight Of The Badge” is a little too down home and wholesome, “Codigo” just sounds like an advert for Tequila and as I am not a religious man, then I’ll leave analysis of “What Goes Up” to others. Christian radio will swallow it whole though.
Largely, though “Honky Tonk Time Machine” is a fine record that will doubtless sell by the million. And the fact that Willie Nelson finally closes the show, does prove that even after 40 years and 61 number one hits, even legends have dreams and dreams can still come true. In that spirit then, maybe Kylie Minogue will finally see sense and answer my calls? I should be so lucky…..
Rating 7.5/10
