As it was originally conceived and manifested, country music is dead. For this reason, that Willie Nelson is still alive and releasing an album is a great thing. His latest work, Heroes, is nothing short of a gift to humanity from God.
Ballads are a difficult thing to get right. Nobody ever told Willie Nelson that, though, because he seems to be able to consistently write and perform the most fantastic country ballads, along with everything else he throws together. Listening to the opening track, “A Horse Called Music”, makes you think to yourself, “That’s it. I’m done for the day. I don’t have to do anything else. Willie Nelson solved all of my problems.”
Further fueling the suspicion that Willie Nelson is, in fact, completely insane, Snoop Dogg (QRO photos) is a featured guest vocalist on the album’s second track, “Roll Me Up”. The track is surprisingly pleasant and, in point of fact, as catchy as the rest of the album.
For readers that have made it this far, it would be wise to mention that this album is a collaborative album. Merle Haggard, Jamey Johnson, Kris Kristofferson, Lukas Nelson, Sheryl Crow, and Billie Joe Shaver all make serial appearances, lending their voices to Willie’s fantastic arrangements. This was, in popular opinion, one of the best ideas the gentleman ever had.
People either love or hate country music. There really isn’t an in-between, and this is a sad thing indeed. If those who hate country, but love music, would simply be played Willie Nelson’s Heroes album without being told what it is, there can be little doubt that it would be extremely well received. It is, after all, a fantastic album. There’ll be no negativity in this review. To do so would merely be useless nit-picking. Willie Nelson is a musical and lyrical genius, and he performs as such on Heroes. If you’re a fan, buy it. If you’re not a fan…
…Buy it.