Even if you’re not exactly the lover of country music, you know Willie Nelson and have heard at least one of his songs. His shadow is so big that you probably can’t grasp the whole picture of the guy. Of course, he’s been around the music scene while a lot of us were not even around. And yes, when you’re so long around, you make gaffes, how’s a duet with Julio Iglesias? But in essence, Willie fits into one of those “good wines gets better with age” cliches. If for nothing else, his latest album “God’s Problem Child” is here to prove that point.
His capability to put down an almost perfect tune has definitely not given up on him, nor has his voice, which has had that nicely worn leather tone for decades now. Is the musicianship up to the par? Check. Is the production great? Check. So what’s new? The new thing is that Willie doesn’t have to care anymore who thinks what, he’ll do songs he likes in a manner he likes him. This means he does not have to make any stylistic compromises and can really show that he is a musician with a good taste because this is what this album is abundant of. Secondly, it has often been neglected that Nelson is a man who can really pen a good set of lyrics, try, for example, “You Memory Has A Mind Of Its Own” here. His sense of humor hasn’t deserted him either. Try one of the rare uptempo numbers here:
“I woke up still not dead again today
The Internet said I had passed away
If I died I wasn't dead to stay
And I woke up still not dead again today”
(Still Not Dead)
And then there is the standout title track, a slow-burning soulful blues number with vocal contributions from the right guys - Tony Joe White and late Leon Russel. Exceptional. If you’re a Wille Nelson fan, this one is already playing in your head, and if you’re not, this is a got chance to see what yo have been missing.
