Album review: Latest Willie Nelson album is an instant classic

Outlaw country music pioneer Willie Nelson has perhaps been a greater influence on American music than any other singer, songwriter, or musician in history. At 86 he appears just as relevant today as anytime in his career. His new album, Ride Me Back Home was released recently. It is an instant classic.

There has been no shortage of new Willie Nelson records over the past years, or even decades. He keeps busy, and has released 98 studio albums, 12 live albums, and 42 compilations. He is a monumentally prolific songwriter. Ride Me Back Home is his third album in the past year and a half. You would think it near impossible to for his work to still be able to move people emotionally, that the well would have run dry a while back.  For Willie, it is just another day “at the office.”

Ride Me Back Home has two gems we must discuss first. Two songs written by legendary Texas songwriter, Guy Clark who passed away last year, “My Favorite Picture of You”, which he wrote about a photo taken of his wife and fellow songwriter, Susanna Clark, when she was unhappy with him, and “Immigrant Eyes”, co-written with Roger Alan Murrah are top of mind. The latter was originally released in 1988, but holds a message perhaps more relevant in today’s anti-immigrant White House, that at some point we all can trace our “American lives” to immigrants. Nelson effortlessly makes the song his, as only he can. His aged, time-worn voice makes it sound as new and fresh as the current border wall debate.

“My Favorite Picture of You” is a song that lends itself to Nelson perfectly. Even the timing seems to sound like maybe he’d written the song. Maybe it’s because Clark and Nelson are both Texas songwriters from an era when that actually meant something, but Nelson makes it easy to feel he’d be even more in love with a woman who is described as having “.. a fire in your eyes, You’ve got your heart on your sleeve, A curse on your lips but all I can see, Is beautiful”. Willie has said it’s likely his favorite track from the new record.

Willie also covers Mac Davis’ “Oh Lord Its Hard To Be Humble” with his musician sons, Lukas and Micah Nelson. “Just The Way You Are”, by Billy Joel makes an appearance, prompting you to ask, “Billy who?” He concludes the collection with an old Gene Watson song, “Maybe I Should Have Been Listening,” written by Buzz Rabin.

The other tracks listed are all Willie Nelson originals, with most appearing to be new songs. The exception is the song, “Stay Away From Lonely Places”. He out performs any popular R&B mix with his “Seven Year Itch”. Backed by a pride of musicians, all masters, and arranged perfectly to support Nelson’s tempered voice and jazz phrasing.

“Ride Me Back Home,” the title cut is a love song perhaps only horsemen will truly appreciate. Here he discusses the deep measured trust between a man and an equine. He celebrates his love for horses, to be both noble and free and also animals we are dependent upon. The tender truce between man and beast is as fragile as this song is tender, and yet as strong as the truest bonds of live tested over time. If you’ve never felt maybe a horse may know part of you better than anyone else, you just won’t understand.

The album as a whole is a rock solid Willie Nelson record. If you’re a Nelson devotee, go buy it in your favorite format, you will not be disappointed. If you just like music, this record would still be a good pick-up, ’cause it is at its heart, good music. And through all the grand words written about Willie over the years, all the wordsmiths trying desperately to phrase what makes him special or unique, it is simply that: Willie makes good music.

Nelson’s love of his craft can’t be denied or reproduced. It can’t be imitated by skinny, jean wearing, rap/pop/bro-country noisemakers either. To paraphrase Waylon Jennings, “American music is Willie Nelson, Willie Nelson IS American music.”

At 86 years, he shines in this new collection of songs, as only a well-crafted soul can. No guesswork, he knows what he is doing. Let us all hope he keeps doing it, forever.

The greatest fear a true music fan has is to see their idols wither and wilt on stage. Many greats have kept performing long after their time has passed, just a lonely sad shadow of their former self. Others choose to retire from public life before this bastard called old age steals the music from their souls. To say Willie has lost a step is just honest. He isn’t as fast on the guitar, his voice isn’t as strong or pristine, and he does seem to be working for it, just a little bit harder than in days now gone.

But whatever makes Willie Nelson, Willie is still there, in live performance, on his albums, making the music shine. It shines from his twinkly eyes, carried away by his voice, and through his weathered hands, into the very hearts of the listener, who cannot help but be moved right down to their toes because of it. If we are lucky he will keep opening up and crafting his undying legacy.

Music fans can catch Nelson and a slew of guest acts; Steve Earle, Jamey Johnson, Nathaniel Rateliff and more at the Austin360 Amphitheater at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack tomorrow for the singer’s annual 4th of July Picnic tomorrow. Tickets are still available.