Album Review: George Strait ‘Love Is Everything’ [VIDEO]

George Strait's highly anticipated album Love Is Everything came out yesterday and yes, I did go pick up a copy right away yesterday morning.

There's no question George knows how to put together a great album but he has had some that are better than others, like Troubadour.  Part of the reason this album is so special to George and his fans is the fact he's out on his last official tour.

I spent last night and part of this morning listening to the album and put together a track-by-track review.

The album starts off with I Got a Car, which is a cute little number about a boy who meets a girl and wants a shot with her.    He's got a car and they take off on their journey together which centers around this car right up to the point where she is due to give birth to their child.

The second track is shaping up to be his 60th Number 1 hit, Give It All We Got Tonight.  When George first heard the song, he had his doubts as to whether he could do it.

"The first time I heard it I thought, ‘Hmm, that’s a great song. [It’s] a little different for me, you know, a little risqué kinda.’ I’m thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can pull this off or not."

Check out more of George's thoughts on the song here.

Blue Melodies is the third track on the album.  Lyrically and musically the song takes you back to classic country.  It's very sad and could just as easily have been a George Jones tune.

I Just Can't Go on Dying Like This is not a new song in terms of age and even for George himself.  He recorded this song several years before he signed with MCA and it also appeared on his Strait Out of the Box set.  There are some differences, the most obvious being a slower melody.

I Thought I Heard My Heart Sing is a catchy, upbeat song with a Cajun feel to it.  It is reminiscent of his hit from the '90's, Adalida, which has always been one of my favorites.

The sixth track, That's What Breaking Hearts Do, is absolutely one of my favorites.  It's a timeless song that would fit well on any George album.

When Love comes Around Again is another favorite of mine.  It's about someone who is heartbroken but they're optimistic about their future and finding love again.

The Night Is Young is a really fun, upbeat, party song.  Being in the midst of summer (well, kind of), I can see this one being played at several parties in my neighborhood.

Sittin' On The Fence describes a situation we have all been in, getting burned in a relationship.  It describes how difficult it can be to start fresh, no matter how much you like the person.

The tenth track will make you think and touch your heart.  I Believe speaks volumes about George's faith.  There's a line in the song that goes 'there's 26 angels looking down from above, resting in His mercy, grace and love, time may never heal the sadness we feel' which reminds of the school shooting in Newtown, CT.  I haven't heard of a connection yet but I am thinking there could be one.

The title track, Love Is Everything, talks about all the different emotions that love entails.  Love is happiness and rainbows but sometimes it isn't.  You take the good with the bad because love is everything.

You Don't Know What You're Missing definitely has an older feel to it and reminds of some of his other songs on past albums.  It's three guys sitting in a bar and one is complaining about his life and the guy sitting on the end by himself is wishing he had what the other guy is complaining about.

Fittingly, When the Credits Roll closes out the album.  I think this song is really cool because it talks about all the different roles a man has played during his lifetime.  He looks back on it he gets a glimpse of his soul.

Love Is Everything is quickly becoming one of my favorite George Strait albums.  There is such a variety of songs and he stays true to his country roots while venturing a bit out of his comfort zone.  Any one of these songs could easily be released and go to Number 1, but that's George for you.