The sunset motif on the cover of The Road Less Traveled, George Strait's 28th MCA album since 1981, hints at a more private, thoughtful ambiance. This is reflected in the title song, the introspective "The Middle of Nowhere" and the contented (if bland) domesticity of "Living and Living Well". Strait adds a smoking revival of Chip Taylor's rockabilly homage "The Real Thing", though the convivial remake of Del Reeves's 1969 honky-tonk hit "Good Time Charley's" didn't need the annoying overdubbed barroom sounds. As always, letting Strait be Strait is the key. When that doesn't happen and unsuitable material enters the mix, things quickly falter, as they do on his tepid version of Rodney Crowell's "Stars on the Water" and the formulaic "Don't Tell Me You're Not in Love". On the power ballad "Run", Strait's loose-limbed vocal style slams head-on into a ponderous, synthesiser-heavy arrangement with disastrous results. A few more like the album's closer, a superb interpretation of Merle Haggard's blissful "My Life's Been Grand", would have helped. --Rich Kienzle