George Strait’s Twang Gets Buffetted

George Strait's 2009 CD, Twang, photo courtesy of MCA Nashville.

Aug. 11, 2009 — George Strait’s new Twang album has a lot in common with the two CDs that came before it.

George worked on all three projects with longtime producer Tony Brown, he used most of the same musicians — who he refers to as "the Critters" — and he recorded all three at Shrimpboat Sound, a small studio in Key West owned by Jimmy Buffett.

"I think the atmosphere is just so laidback there," George told Buzz Brainard on on the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. "My vocals seem pretty clear down there where probably part of it’s the ocean air. Like I say, it’s very laidback, and the guys get very relaxed and we work hard when we work, but we take a lot of breaks and enjoy the view. The atmosphere is really good there. The studio’s very small, nothin’ fancy about it, but we seem to get a good sound in there and the vibe’s really good."

The musicians — including drummer Eddie Bayers, bass player Glenn Worf, steel guitarist Paul Franklin and fiddler Stuart Duncan, among others — often see George only when they’re in the studio. Since there’s a window of 12-18 months between his albums, that means he has a lot of catching up to do when he starts working on a new project with the Critters.

"We just have a good time," George said. "We all enjoy bein’ around each other, and we don’t get to see other that much throughout the year, so it’s a good time to see each other, visit, see what’s been goin’ on. Then when we get into the studio and get down to the work, it’s very serious. It’s just a great atmosphere [in Key West], and I think we’ve cut some great things down there."

The Twang album is in stores now. It includes his recent hit "Living For The Night," one of three songs that George co-wrote for the CD.

Watch a video interview with George Strait and order TWANG now »