Willie Nelson has secured his status as a legend of country music because of his rebellious attitude and his indubitable talent as a songwriter. His latest release, Songbird, is technically sound, but is overall nothing more than average.
As country's most famous outlaw, Nelson breaks the mold. A first impression would make you think he is a dirty hippie rather than a respected country singer. Willie is famous for defying authority and toking up, both of which he does while sporting braided pigtails, and is still taken seriously by his peers and fans.
Although Nelson has always led a more liberal personal life than some of his colleagues, his music has always been simple and traditional""in other words, classic. None of the tracks on Songbird are ruined by distortion, synthesizers or any other kind of technology so many artists today rely on to create interest. When this style of instrumentation is paired with down-to-earth lyrics that almost anyone can relate to, the result is a perfect balance of story and music, with each working to enhance the other.
We Don't Run"" is an upbeat and defiant anthem for anyone who has had to take a stand fortheir beliefs. The song reveals Nelson's outlaw attitude and proves that he is not afraid to speak his mind. Another pleasant surprise is his cover of ""Hallelujah."" The deep vocals stir emotion and match the lyrics perfectly while showing off Willie's wide range. His interpretation is just apathetic enough to catch your attention and differ slightly from the original version. However, the magic is lost near the end when a church choir picks up on the chorus. The reasoning behind this is understandable, but it just doesn't work with the music and is a puzzling change from the style of the first half of the song.
The real triumph of this album is the title track, ""Songbird."" This is another cover, originally by Fleetwood Mac, which Nelson skillfully makes his own while still retaining enough of Fleetwood Mac's classic rock sound. There is enough of both rock and country to please fans of either genre. This is a wise move, since many artists who cover songs fail by either straying too far from the original version or by changing the song completely. ""Songbird"" has a sound different from any of the others on the album, but it is a great change of pace and stands out well, as a title track should.
A major disappointment is Nelson's take on ""Amazing Grace,"" the last track of the album. He manages to take the most uplifting and inspirational hymn of all time and turn it into a depressing experience. The steady wailing sounds created would be more fitting for a funeral than this album. The contrast is so severe that the listener is left to wallow in depression when Songbird comes to an end.
The general lack of fresh, new material is also disappointing. An artist who will be remembered as a legend has a little more creative license than an emerging artist. Even if Nelson had tried something different and failed, his reputation would survive because of all the work he has done in shaping the country music genre.
Even though it's evident that each song has been carefully crafted, the majority of the album is nothing new or special for Willie Nelson. There's no doubt that he has lost none of his talent over his many years, but by taking more risks musically or lyrically the album could have brought new life to Nelson's career.
