Countryman

by

Willie Nelson

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10 years. That's a long time, you know. A decade. Of course, for an artist as prolific as Willie Nelson, 10 year is nothing. But for those of us who've been dying to hear him sing reggae, it's an eternity. Well, COUNTRYMAN is here, and it's a blast!

The thing is, this doesn't sound at all awkward. It's Willie Nelson--the man who, when he puts his heart and soul into it (as he's done here) can sing anything he darn-well pleases. It also helps that he penned most of these songs, many of which have become country classics. And those he didn't write (the two Jimmy Cliff numbers--"The Harder They Come" and "Sitting in Limbo"--and Johnny Cash's "I'm A Worried Man") come out sounding naturally; hell, the two Cliff songs rank with some of Willie's best recordings. And while, yes, the production does occasionally take away from the impact of his lyrics, it should be expected: Willie Nelson is a man who does what he wants, and often that includes employing contradictions. But all towards a noteworthy end--great music!

So, in summary, COUNTRYMAN is an album that may not be worth a ten-year wait, but since it has finally come out, there's no reason not to give it a listen. You'll enjoy it. Even fans of Willie's hardcore material should enjoy it...after all, it's only a small step away from the bravado and musical genius of RED-HEADED STRANGER. You remember that one, don't you? Made a superstar out of this short, red-headed singer/songwriter. And though Willie Nelson has aged, it's been like a fine wine: the more time passes, the more you enjoy the outcome. COUNTRYMAN is simply a great album, and destined to be a classic.

My suggestion? Ignore the five star ratings. Ignore the one star ratings. If you are a die hard Willie fan, buy it. If you're on the fence, listen to some tracks first. There's some good stuff here to be sure, but this is an effort that lacks focus. As is well known, it was kind of strung together from different sessions over a number of years and somewhat patched together once the green light was given to put it out. Some old Willie tunes just don't seem to fit the production - "Something To Think About" springs to mind. And, let's face it, Willie's habit of late has been to go back to his old songs again and again on new projects - it would be nice to hear some new material. But this is Willie and that makes it better - and more interesting - than just about anything (certainly on country radio) being put out now (compare this work to Toby Keith and that ilk, and it sounds like a classic). "I'm A Worried Man", "The Harder They Come" and "Darkness On The Face of the Earth" are given interesting go-rounds to be sure. And, like I said, this is Willie. Not great Willie, but still Willie.