Strait Up [Enhanced]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Snot singer James Lynn Strait had a lot of friends, if this intensely emotional tribute is any indication. Strait died in a December 1998 car accident, with Snot on the verge of breaking big, thanks to critical kudos and a stint on Ozzfest '98. Strait Up features a dozen of heavy rock's most prominent singers, including Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, Korn's Jonathan Davis, Incubus's Brandon Boyd, and Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath paying homage to the late frontman. In 1998, Snot's Mikey Doling and John "Tumor" Fahenstock had music awaiting lyrics from Strait, who passed away before beginning the album. So the singers on Strait Up wrote their own lyrics to Snot's heavy music and recorded with the surviving members of Snot. The results are impressive. System of a Down's Serj Tankian offers up a eulogy in "Starlit Eyes": "The first to accept, the last to disappoint / Now you are free to roam the skies." Slipknot's Corey Taylor turns in a melodic but aggro "Requiem," singing: "I see the loss every time someone says your name." But it's the mellow emotion exuded by Sevendust's Lajon Witherspoon in "Angel's Son" that is the standout on a powerful album full of poignant triumphs. --Katherine Turman

Tracks:

Someone Had To Teach You
Heaven Must Be Wondering Where You Are
I've Come To Expect It From You
Lonesome Rodeo Cowboy
When You're A Man On Your Own
Drinking Champagne
We're Supposed To Do That Now & Then
She Loves Me (She Don't Love You)
Love Without End, Amen
Stranger In My Arms

Customer Reviews:

George in relaxed mood.......2005-05-17

This is in many ways a typical George Strait album of the eighties but it finds George in a particularly relaxed mood - almost as if he's trying to tempt a few Don Williams fans to buy the album.

The album yielded two number one country hits (Love without end amen, I've come to expect it from you), both original songs, and a country top five hit (Drinking Champagne), which was a cover of a song originally recorded by Cal Smith. George recorded two songs (Someone had to teach you, She loves me she don't love you) with his road band. The other tracks including the hits were recorded with studio musicians - however, the album flows seamlessly and if you didn't read the credits (or this review) you probably wouldn't realize that different musicians were used. There are plenty of other wonderful songs here including Lonesome rodeo cowboy, We're supposed to do that now and then, When you're a man on your own and Stranger in my arms.

This is a very enjoyable George Strait album. It probably isn't the place to begin a George Strait collection (unless you're also a Don Williams fan) but it definitely desevves a place in such a collection.

Real country style album.......2001-09-12

Livin it up is a good album by George Strait for the most part. I really think though that the singles are the best songs of the cd and they were wisely chosen. All 3 singles stayed at #1 on the country billboard charts back then for then 5 weeks each. These were some of his biggest singles ever. The other 7 songs are good but are very dry though and alot of the nonsingles are missing emotion. But livin it up is a great record by george.

Out of 26 albums, this is my favorite.......2000-05-30

What can I say? After 10 years in release and 25 other albums, this is still my favorite. When six out of ten songs rate as instant classic, including four non-singles, you know it's a premier collection. Love Without End, Amen nicely summarizes every father's feelings, both in this world and the next. Extra points for using the word "shiner" in a song. A driving beat and reproachful lyrics that aren't too reproachful put I've Come to Expect It over the top. Satisfaction that occurs when a person's dumper becomes a dumpee themselves is conveyed nicely in Someone Had to Teach You, and We're Supposed To Do That recognizes the fact that love isn't always 24 hours of perfection. The other two favorites, Lonesome Rodeo Cowboy and She Loves Me do great with their respective tempos.

Drinking Champagne is perhaps a tad too lethargic for the emotion it wishes to carry, and its message is nearly a sequel to the situation in When You're a Man On Your Own.

An almost-perfect balance of slow and fast tunes is attained, and feeling and attitude are utilized almost perfectly on every song. The bar is raised even higher than usual.