Willie Nelson - Moment of Forever

Of the thirteen songs on this disc, Willie Nelson only lent his pen to three of them. I've always thought it was the height of honor for a great songwriter to sing someone else's tune, so I see this as Willie tipping his bandana to ten other great writers by singing their songs. Considering Willie's iconic standing, I'm hoping said songwriters feel the same way. There's sorrow in these songs, and hope, and humor. There's a tongue-in-cheek little tune from Big Kenny - yeah, the one from Big & Rich - called "The Bob Song," which tells a straightforward little story with a moral we've all heard before but it always bears repeating. And an offering from the great Randy Newman, "Louisiana," speaks with bitter honesty about the tragedies that struck with the hurricanes. Buddy Cannon's "When I Was Young and Grandma Wasn't Old" gives a warm and beautiful story about age, and sung in Willie's poignant voice (and having read his biography), it's hard to believe he didn't write it himself. One of the ones Willie did write, "You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore," is composed of only a few lyrics, but they're some of the best satirical lyrics I've heard in a while. I just love the line, "I used to fake a heart attack/ And fall down on the floor/ But even I don't think that's funny anymore."

Willie Nelson remains solid proof that, with enough determination, anyone can survive anything - and keep coming out on top. Willie sounds as timeless now as he did in the late sixties, his voice perhaps even grander with age, smooth and perfect as always. Like its master, his grand and battered old guitar, Trigger, sounds magnificent. Now, people didn't think I'd want to hear this album because of the presence of Big Kenny and the co-producer Kenny Chesney, who duets with Willie on the Guy Clark song, "Worry Be Gone," but honestly - I'm not THAT narrow- minded. When I hear the duet, I'm reminded of what I once liked about Chesney, before he traded that smooth country singer he was to be a muscle-bound Jimmy Buffett-wanna-be, riding the forward edge of a slick marketing campaign. Hey, "everyone wants to sell records," right? Anything for a sale. And muscle-bound countrified Buffett impersonations sell. But Chesney has got a good voice. It shows when he's singing a song written by someone with as much talent as Clark, singing with someone like Willie. Chesney also proves a deft hand with the producing, along with co-producer Buddy Cannon, and he co-wrote the song "I'm Alive." I have no quarrel with good music, no matter who produces it. I can forgive a lot provided the music's good.

Release Date: January 29, 2008 - Label: Lost Highway