George Strait

When you’re as good at what you do as George Strait is, the only thing distinguishing your truly great albums from your merely dependably solid efforts is usually one great song. That handicaps Troubadour right out of the gate, because its predecessor, 2006’s It Just Comes Natural, had enough truly exemplary cuts for at least four great Strait records. Had he saved “Give It Away,” “It Just Comes Natural,” “Wrapped” or even his spirited take on Guy Clark’s “Texas Cookin’” for this set instead of so generously giving ’em all away on his last one, Troubadour might have been a landmark career achievement, too. That said, as plain-old “good” Strait records go, this one boasts at least one more worthy concert staple in the opening title track, and the fun-as-its-title-suggests “Make Her Fall in Love With Me Song” should be a mandatory addition in every country bar jukebox across the nation. But please, mister please, don’t play “River of Love” — unless you’re trying to win a bar bet that even Mr. Consistency can’t sell every clunker.