Willie Nelson

Sure, Willie Nelson's foray into reggae with Countryman suggested he may have taken one toke too many, but 2005's follow up -- a dedication to the songs of Cindy Walker -- showed his ability as a vocalist and ambassador of American song. Songbird's elegant performance offers another late career triumph. Aided by producer and alt dreamboat Ryan Adams (and his band, the Cardinals), Nelson's renditions of the Dead's "Stella Blue," Cohen's "Hallelujah," Parsons' "$1000 Wedding" and Fleetwood Mac's "Songbird" are lushly played and expertly interpreted.

With the still-supple Willie Nelson down to a modest album-a-year pace at seventy-three,
the release of the Ryan Adams-produced Songbird so close upon March's Cindy
Walker-linked You Don't Know Me suggests that maybe the old man just wanted to put this
record behind him. Adams loves his band the Cardinals very much, and Nelson is an affable
fellow. But the Cardinals' indistinct country-rock hybrid muffles the material. Co... More >

With the still supple Willie Nelson down to a modest album-a-year pace at 73, for the Ryan Adams-produced Songbird to follow so close upon February's Cindy Walker-linked You Don't Know Me suggests that the old man just wanted to put this record behind him. Adams loves his band very much, and Nelson is an affable fellow. But the Cardinals' indistinct country-rock hybrid muffles the material. Compare the opener, "Rainy Day Blues," to 2000's sharp, showy Jonny Lang-aided remake; check how much clearer the indomitable "We Don't Run" came through on Spirit in 1996. Nelson is almost always worth hearing. Be grateful he put his stamp on Gram Parsons's "$1000 Wedding" and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." But Christine McVie's title tune doesn't fly, Nelson's new "Back to Earth" didn't start all that far up, and Adams's previously unrecorded contribution is one of way too many. (Grade - ***)