George Strait, the oldest New Traditionalist country singer on the block, released his new album Troubadour last week, the same day R.E.M. dropped Accelerate, and guess who beat who to the top of the album charts? Admittedly, R.E.M.'s sales weren't too shabby either; they pulled in just behind Strait to nestle in at No. 2. Nevertheless, Strait's dominance raises some interesting questions.
 
Strait and R.E.M. both started their careers around the same time. R.E.M. hasn't reached No. 2 since 1996, while this is Strait's third time at the top spot since '97 (don't even ask how many times he's topped the country charts). What happened? Might have something to do with the differences between the rock and country markets.
 
The notions of freshness and youth are less of an issue to country fans (sure, the country charts are littered with youngsters, and Mick Jagger still owns the planet, but there are deeper principles at work). By its nature, country is a genre that honors age and stick-to-it-iveness, and in the rock world it's always been more of an adapt-or-die deal. Being a middle-aged rocker is bad enough, but if you don't move with the times they run you over.
 
Not that anybody's running over R.E.M., but hell if the fiftysomething Strait isn't laughing louder and longer this week on the limo ride to his local Wachovia.