The year 1980 will always be remembered as an influential one for America. Pac-Man was released in arcades, the summer Olympics were hosted in the Soviet Union and George Strait released his first album.

Strait released his first album Strait Country in 1980. In total, Strait has a total of 31 studio albums and 20 multi-platinum songs. He has 60 number one hit songs, which is more than The Beatles and Elvis combined.

Many in the genre refer to Strait as “The King” for his success and influence in all music. While Cowboys and Dreamers came out over 40 years after Strait’s debut album, it still keeps up with some of his best works, showcasing Strait’s longevity in the genre.

The best songs on the album include “MIA Down In MIA,” “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame,” which features fellow country legend Chris Stapleton, and “Rent.”

In “MIA Down In MIA,” Strait’s iconic voice truly shows why he is cemented as a legend. While simple in concept, Strait’s iconic vocal twang provides an interesting style for a song about escaping your issues and going to a personal paradise. 

“Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” just sounds like country greatness. Featuring Chris Stapleton, it really seems to capture the energy of a lively bar in musical format. Stapleton’s performance enhances an already good song, turning it into a classic by two legends of the genre.

Another song that really stands out is “Rent,” a six-minute ballad written by Strait’s late friend Kieth Gattis. This song is a much needed change of pace and much sadder in nature. Strait’s vocal performance is haunting due to the song’s context.

While this album is mostly good, there are a few points, mainly from the beginning to “MIA Down in MIA” and after “Rent” that get slow and drag a bit. Still, none of the songs are inherently bad.

While Cowboys and Dreamers is nothing out of the norm for Straits catalog of music, it’s another solid addition in an iconic and lengthy 40-year career of music.