WILLIE NELSON - “SONGBIRD”

CD: WILLIE NELSONâ€""SONGBIRD"

Review: In forty-plus years, there have been over 100 Willie Nelson albums on the market. Some have been put out without his cooperation, some have been put out for purely financial (i.e. back taxes) reasons, and, thankfully, many have been put out because of his artistry. Songbird definitely falls into the latter category. Produced by Ryan Adams and accompanied by Adams backing band The Cardinals (along with Willie’s longtime harmonica cohort Mickey Raphael), Songbird once again sees Nelson brilliantly interpreting works covering a wide range of great songwriters. Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and Jerry Garcia’s “Stella Blues” are two of the standouts, and Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird” gives the album it’s title. With Adams at the helm and his band laying the musical foundation, it should come as no surprise that the album sounds nearly as much like Adam’s recent work as it does any of Willie’s recent recordings. What does come as a surprise is how well the combination works. Nelson has always tended towards vocal interpretations that bring out the bluesy, relaxed, even resigned feelings in the material. Songbird’s music, however, underpins this world-weary feel with a much greater intensity than we are used to from a Willie Nelson album. His version of “Amazing Grace” is positively spooky, with a gothic organ bringing out the element of fear present in the song. Adam’s own “Blue Hotel, ” along with Gram Parson’s “$1000 Wedding,” rock strongly alongside Nelson’s wistful voice. Fans of pure country will be satisfied with Nelson’s one original contribution, “Back To Earth,” as well as the waltz- tempo “Sad Songs and Waltzes” and good-time vibe of “We Don’t Run”. Whatever the tune, Adams has drawn out Willie’s laid-back pop instincts and married them to his own more forceful musical approach. And as with any good marriage, both parties seem to be enriched by the presence of the other.

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