Strait continues into his fifth decade of making music with a new album. Image via MCA Nashville

George Strait’s new album, Cowboys and Dreamers, marks his fifth decade of releasing music. 

The only duet on the album, “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” with Chris Stapleton, stands out. Strait’s soft voice and Stapleton’s raspy tone mix well to create their first collaboration.

On this new record, Strait continues to use the sound that he has created over the years. The song “The Little Things” sounds mostly like Strait’s previous music. It contains lyrics like “Those moments when you swear you feel the clock stop / And the answer seems as simple as a raindrop.” 

Strait is known for meaningful and soulful lyrics that draw listeners to the older style of country music. 

He feeds into the sense that this kind of music is dying. In the song, “Cowboys and Dreamers,” he sings, “Some days I feel like the last of a dying breed / Trying to find where I fit.” With this song, he describes how his generation of artists is falling behind the more upbeat version of country music. 

Strait brings more nostalgia into his music style. Even though he keeps it classic with the instruments used in most of this album, “Waymore’s Blues” brings an upbeat line dance to the track.