Reviews (page 7 of 12)
:) Soothing
A little slow but I enjoy this type of country!
Nothing stands out, and it drags a bit towards the end.
Good guitar work. Story was hard to follow.
I do not like country music. Willie Nelson is fine. Thanks for listening.
First country album in this journal. Good, but another case where I think the lyrics are important to its impact. It really didn't help that the first of such albums put me off it with talking about masters and pretty girls, so while I'm not going to do lyric analysis factor context and history into my ratings, I will try to listen more attentively again in the future
git
I like Willie, one of the few country singers I can stomach. This is an enjoyable album, it's mellow, his voice is relaxing, but in all honesty it's not ground breaking or a must-hear. I kinda felt like it was a singer songwriter onstage rattling off his latest in front of a small crowd in a country bar. The songs kinda blended together and the sparse instrumentation kept it somewhat monotone. "Blues Eyes Crying In The Rain" is the highlight and people agree (92M listens on Spotify). "Red Headed Stranger" is a good story song. I think the song that surprised me the most was "Can I Sleep In Your Arms" - it's a lovely song, great piano work and I don't think I've ever heard it before. It was all good, nothing mind blowing but I certainly wouldn't mind hearing it again. It's a new album to me so I'm glad I got a chance to listen to it, I wouldn't have given it a try without this prompt. 3 stars.
yeehaaa
326/1089 i will never be a fan of (traditional) country and this album isn’t changing that. but Willie’s voice is quite nice and definitely makes it bearable the type of music that i can appreciate more if it’s soundtracking a good scene in a show etc kinda ironic that i mention willie’s voice being a key highlight only for my two fave tracks to be instrumental (down yonder and bandera) 60/100
1/2
Went into it thinking I was gonna hate this. Honestly so mellow, and lovely to listen to. Little bit boring as it went on though
Nice to listen with the rain
a nice album. I enjoyed listening to it. Some quiet country/folk type songs. Something that I might listen to again, although probably not purchase
I liked it but a little too repetitive for me
Has a very easy comforting sound not dissimilar to many other country music I've heard before. He's got a good voice and I like the theme of the Stranger. Wouldn't be on my regular rotation but I wouldn't shut it off if it came on.
6/10 What’s most interesting about this album is that, as a collection of songs, it’s pretty mundane, but as an album it feels much more complete. The ideas are fleeting, and there are only three songs that run longer than three minutes, meaning that many of the motifs and themes come and go in no time at all. But it also calls back to various earlier moments throughout the record and as a flowing, evolving piece, it is far more rewarding than just listening to the odd track would be. With all that being said, it still ended up feeling like a pleasant but perhaps a little uninspiring record in the end. Many of the songs are covers of other artists’ work and, while Willie ties them together well and strings everything into that flowing, evolving narrative, the fact is that stylistically, it feels quite generic and perhaps that slight lack of a unified songwriting voice doesn’t help it to become the completely coherent whole that the concept promises it to be. The production and performances from the band are excellent, managing to thread the needle between laid back and rhythmically tight perfectly, and Willie’s voice is in fine fettle, offering the everyman storyteller sound, presented in a controlled and coherent way. As someone with only a passing knowledge of country music, however, there didn’t seem to be a vast amount in this album that made it particularly special compared to a lot of similar music that came before or after this record and, interesting concept aside, this was one that was enjoyable enough without giving me any real reason to return. Time Of The Preacher - There’s a nice, gentle swagger to this. There’s nothing complex about it, but it does what it sets out to do pretty well. The performances are deft and well put together, despite the fact that it’s over not long after it’s really got going. I Couldn't Believe It Was True - He’s got a voice that sits really well between controlled and fluid. It’s got a lovely, organic tone too. The guitar playing here is lovely, and the interplay between the two lines is really nice. Again, it’s quite a fleeting little song and we’re on to the next one. Time Of The Preacher Theme - Which is a call back to the opener. It’s a touch plodding, but I think that works for it in this case, as it has a cool, lumbering attitude to it that’s quite pleasant. Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger - Pleasant stuff with some lovely loosely timed guitar playing that is quite evocative. Again, not too much to say about a nice little song that does its job in a minute and a half. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain - This is so gentle and relaxed, like being sung a bed time story by an old codger in the corner of a dusty bar. The guitar playing is lovely, the lilt of his vocal is pretty too, and then, as with much of the album so far, it’s done. Just like that. Red Headed Stranger - Another entirely pleasant but also unspectacular tune. This one’s a bit longer form so it has a bit more time to settle in and develop itself. The little honky-tonk piano is nice and the whole thing has a nice, swung groove to it. Everything about it is well put together and fairly enjoyable, but it doesn’t really do anything to excite me. Time Of The Preacher Theme - Another quick callback to the opener. Just As I Am - That runs straight into this. Melodically, it’s nice enough and the counterpoint that passes between guitar and piano adds a nice depth and feel to that melody. It’s a touch meandering, but I think that’s kind of the point. Denver - Again, this almost feels like a snippet of a song, rather than a whole one. Nice, but over before it’s begun and swiftly moves on to… O'er The Waves - A melody that probably everyone knows by Juventino Rossas that’s been used on countless fairgrounds and in various media over the years. It’s got a nice swagger and the piano work is really nice. Down Yonder - Ah, a bit of pace. The band are super tight and this has a great, bouncing feel to it. It’s quite music hall in a way, and it’s nice enough, but it’s also quite repetitive and doesn’t really offer anything special, despite being less than two minutes long. Can I Sleep In Your Arms - Now the pace has dropped to a crawl. It’s pretty enough, but it feels very generic really. The piano solo section is very nice, and there’s a nice ebb and flow to the instrumentation and dynamic. But everything about it feels very familiar, from chord structure to melody, I can’t necessarily pick out what makes this stand out musically from hundreds of other songs of this style. But it was still quite an enjoyable listening experience. Remember Me - The swing and cadence of the rhythm here is really nice, and the guitar work is lovely. There’s a laid back fell, but enough pace to give things get up and go. The piano picks up nicely from the guitar too. It’s not going to be my favourite song of all time, but I enjoyed this for what it was and the performances all round were really enjoyable. Hands On The Wheel - The pace and restraint give this a subtle, but enjoyable feel. As with much of the album, it does feel quite generic and doesn’t offer a vast amount of musical development, despite the slow build of the instrumentation. Willie’s vocal is really nice, to be fair and the performances are great. But it’s not vastly interesting. Bandera - A nice, chilled and quite pretty piece with some lovely piano playing to round things off. Not much to say apart from that it’s really well balanced and has a great bittersweet feel to it.
Fine meh
Id love listening to this in a cowboy bar back in the Gold Rush ngl
just so lovely. i have a boomer dad that smokes weed so i'm not totally alien to willy, but i don't think i've ever sat and listened to this one. first new to me thing that i liked on the list so far. i listened to it three times today. i love the instrumental interludes, the bach rendition. i love willy's voice, i love his guitar. i love how every song seems like it just flows into the next. i love when it borrows tennessee waltz and red river valley and turns into something else. listening to this feels like you're at a friday night party at an elk's lodge in heaven. fave track hands on the wheel
Willie does not stretch any limits in any sense here. Songs are all sort of within the same headspace of calming mood pieces, and everything is pleasant without striking any memorable chords.
A concept country album sounds ominous but I was pleasantly surprised. Thr stripped-back feel chimes with my perception of country music.
Country classics
My first foray into country music, and I can see the appeal. He has a great voice, it's a chill, calming, poetic sound and I think it would be amazing to listen to live, in a country bar in Dallas. Top Tracks: Time of a Preacher, I couldn't believe it was true, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Can I sleep in your arms. Red headed ranger Somewhere between a 3 and 4 so far. 18th studio album is crazy btw. Very strong 3.8 Don't cross me.
Really peaceful album, good story telling but the charm wore off on the 2nd listen for me
Muy country, no estuvo mal
This was new to me but I enjoyed it - very much in my musical comfort zone but no bad thing
Would be a lovely album to fall asleep to - lots to hold on to lyrically but unfortunately very little to hold on to musically. Special shoutout to the little Bach minuet in there - wish we had more of that energy.
I'm not generally a fan of country, but Willie is definitely a standout and one of the few artists of the genre that I enjoy... in limited quantities.
Old school country album with Willie’s classic voice. Short and sweet. I think it clocks in a little over 30 minutes. 3.1/5.0
This album was pleasant but for me felt flat and didn't give me anything to be excited about. I can hear why people enjoy this album - storytelling and simple vocal without oversinging. Unfortunately I didn't connect with this.
This is more the type of country that I'm likely to enjoy. Even still, it's kinda a sleepy record. Solid, but not something I'd really go back to.
I'm not really into the majority of music in the country genre, but I do have an appreciation for the storytelling the genre contains. This album in particular is an excellent example of that. Every song seamlessly weaves together a man's story of heartbreak, anger, revenge, sadness, and acceptance. These types of concept albums are a much more immersive and cohesive listen.
3/5. Some solid country music which keeps its arrangements and production nice and tight, there aren’t a ton of extra flourishes but there also doesn’t need to be on an album like this. Nelson’s vocals are solid throughout, I especially love when he brings in some harmonies on “Blue eyes crying in the rain.” Though I’ll admit I don’t see myself coming back for a full album listen of this one anytime soon, but there are a number of great individual tracks.
this was actually kind of good maybe i was wrong about johnny cash
It’s okay, even though I don’t like country - it’s very soothing in a way!
"Red Headed Stranger" is a soft, mellow country album. Although it fits into the outlaw country genre, it is not as out there as some of the other albums of the genre, but rather is mature and simple, telling a tale of a preacher looking for redemption. It's a fine album, although it lacks an element that elevates it to the higher echelons.
3,5
The storutelling is very good but counrty is just not for me
I really didn’t expect to like this as much as I did… chilled out great story telling. 3.5 stars and not sure which way to round.
a little too folky, have to be in the right mood for it
Nice solid Willie either you like it or you love it
cool 3/5
I really don’t care much for Country and/or Western, but it seems disrespectful to give a stoner icon like Willie less than a 3
Americana to the max! Enjoyable
Pleasant enough, but won't be returning.
Not really a country guy but I've always found myself enjoying Willie Nelson. The album played the Time of the Preacher 3 times, which I found odd, but also special shout-out to Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.
delightful and peaceful
Десь на трійку. Мелодійно, але без вау-ефекту
solid
Not really my thing but its pleasant
Pretty good listen. Makes for good coffee shop music. Interesting to learn that Willie Nelson was part of the "outlaw" group of country singers who wanted to break away from the traditional Nashville sound, which was very glossy/produced.
Anything by Willie is worth a listen!
Another short album, great. it does lose me in the concept, not sure what is going on. It is good county music though. 3 Heard before? No Owned: No: 70/282 (25%) Will I get: No
No es de mi gusto. Pero la historia detras la hace interesante.
It was okay - Meh, I guess
Definitely better than the average country music in here
Just a pleasant album. ‘Over The Waves’ just reminded me musically of ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’
I was not very impressed that the only other Willie Nelson album on this list was just cover versions, given the length of this guy's career and the many albums he's released. At least this had some original material. The really pared down instrumentation really seemed to suit the story telling, and while I am never going to be the biggest country fan, I did appreciate how "wild west" western this was. I am crying out for a 2.5 here, but am going to be generous and round up. 3/5
A very good album. It's not my favorite of his but I have listened to it at least once a year since I first heard it five years ago .
willie nelson has a great voice but tragically did sing abt killing a wife so -1 point
Genuinely a nice listen, it’s the kind of melodic folk country I actually like quite a bit- before it goes all beer for my horses
Gozado a las 3 de la mañana mientras juegas Stardew Valley
erg fan van outlaw country maar dit was niet m'n favoriete willie nelson
3/5 - Virkelig nice stripped back album til en stille aften! Jeg må jo bare erkende at jeg tror de sidste to dage har været en øjnåbner for mig og måske min opvågning til country. Kan igen rigtig godt lide historiefortællingen og guiataren. Og så må jeg jo bare anerkende at jeg er en sucker for concept-albums. Selvom lyrikken er nice, står instrumentalerne også skarpt og trækker ikke længere ud end de behøver. Observationer: Jeg kunne rigtig godt lide hvordan starten af side to begynder med at lægge op til dans i sangen Denver, hvorefter to instrumentaler følger <3 Standouts: Time Of The Preacher Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain Hands On The Wheel
It was good. My favorites were Red Headed Stranger and Remember Me. Overall, I would give it a 3.8/5! 🫤👍
Good old Willie — a bit too twangy for me, but love his voice and general vibe. Stardust (still to come for us) is a much better album.
He has a lovely voice. And the songs are good. Nice and short too which is a blessing as I'm not a huge fan of country. This is so much better than the dire vanity project 'Stardust' album I've already listened to. He has a good reputation so I'm glad I don't think he's complete crap any more.
it is relic of it's time for sure
Ya sabemos que me gusta la música country, este disco me gustó pero siento que es para un mood demasiado específico, tipo estar muy tranquilo. Además no me gustó que hay canciones que son solo instrumental, aparte de que las canciones se vuelven repetitivas.
I liked this one. My favorite was Can I Sleep In Your Arms. I added it to my playlist oldies and goldies. It could be a sweet song to be married with.
A nice sleepy album that I can see being nice if you are in the mood.
Wasn’t expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did! Mr Willie has a real comforting voice, dead nice. Will likely not listen to this one again so sadly cannot give Mr Willie more than a 3
Pretty good.
Expectation: -> Ah Willie. An American icon, treasure. I am truly thankful for his influence on modern country artists, though do not believe I will prefer much of his own music. After listening: -> Much respect to the man and his staying power. There is comfort and familiarity with his singing voice/style. Would love to hear this overhead while dining at my favorite country/Western restaurant. It is quite slow and plodding and minimalist, though peaceful. Took a few spins through AND the right mood and mindset to appreciate, but I got there. Track ranking: Sleep Hands Blue Eyes Remember Bandera Preacher / Theme Medley / Red Couldn't Denver Yonder Just O'er
3 de 5 Con un sonido muy austero y sobrio, contando una historia con tintes de drama trágico y redención, William Nelson crea lo que se podría decir como “disco concepto”, el cual, nos sumerge y nos hace partícipes en la vida de “El Extraño”, creando complicidad y armonía. Si no se tiene algún acercamiento con el género de el country, podría llegar a ser algo aburrido y muy lineal. A destacar: Track 2 - I Couldn’t Believe It Was True Track 8 - Just as I Am Track 10 - O’er the waves Track 11 - Down Yonder Track 13 - Remember Me (When the candle lights are gleaming) Track 14 - Hands on the Wheel Track 15 - Bandera
Preferred it to Stardust, probably still around 3.5 though. Don't think I can give it 4.
A beautiful, sparse love letter to the American west. Side B struggles a bit, but it's a great listen regardless.
okay willie…
C&W. Standard classic sound. Why the repeated Time of the Preacher theme? Best track - I Couldn't Believe..., Down Yonder, Remember Me 3 stars - nothing to write home about but fine for C&W
It was good not my thing though
Extremely enjoyable, tight outlaw country album with evocative lyrics making it an easy relisten
Charming enough, but it's pretty tough for country to get more than a 3 from me.
I’m really not a country guy, but outlaw country definitely intrigues me. It seems far more authentic and meaningful than the mindless pickup-trucks-and-blue-jeans garbage an unsettling number of people froth over today. This album definitely confirmed those suspicions for me. Willie had a pretty beautiful voice, and the album kept me fairly engaged from top to bottom, even though the arrangements were, like, comically sparse and the sonic palette was extremely limited. Still, the pictures he paints and the mood he sets here were pretty striking to me, and I was amazed to learn how insanely successful this album was outside of my little music bubble, which I'm currently looking to expand...
I really enjoyed the music and singing on this, but I found it hard to focus on the story being told in the lyrics. I kept tuning out, which made the album overall sound very samey. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I connected with the lyrics.
3.5
I'm really not that into country, even Willie Nelson.
3/4
Love his vibe
Didn’t dislike this as much as expected, reeaaallyyyy quick each song. Fav: Just as I am
Standouts I Couldn't Believe it was True Bandera
Pleasant. I've not had great experience with country and this list so far. Was wondering if I just don't like country that much. This just felt nice though. Pure songwriting. No flashy production. Simple instrumentation. All just nice and tidy.
70’s Country ⭐️Can I Sleep In Your Arms
Latest episode in my evolving relationship to concept albums. This is a fundamentally different kind of thing to most of the other albums on the list. I enjoyed the story it tells but I can't imagine listening to it more than a couple of times. It's beautiful and elegantly made. The cowboy stuff does all feel a little silly to me, though.
Joda
Et par gullkorn, men ellers meh
Fine.
Pretty stripped-down, with simple acoustic guitar and Nelson's signature voice. Easy to listen to.
I don’t like country music, but I’ll make an exception for Willie Nelson.
It’s not incredibly remarkable, but Nelson’s got such a calming voice. These cowboy songs just get me.
3/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/willie-nelson/red-headed-stranger/ It's pretty fun! I can't say I'm a country guy, so generally Willie Nelson's stuff annoys me a bit, but this I can handle. Also makes me want to play Red Dead Redemption.
Nice
I always want this album to be better. I love Willie and classic country, but it’s kinda just slightly different versions of the same song over and over. That being said, that one song is great.
It's the sweetest, most gentle country record one can imagine. If I liked country a little bit more that would be at least a 4 or maybe even 5.
Y'know I liked this more than I thought I would for a Country album. Still not my taste at all but I could easily have this on in the background and be perfectly content.
I'll take this over pop country any day but it's still not really my thing
3.5 Very pleasant and easy to listen to. I like the second half more, the songs are a bit more complex, a bit more “full.” The first half is a lot of almost song shorts or wisps of ideas.
A gentle collection of lullabies Favourite track: Just as I am
It was fine. Willie is fine. I appreciate his place in music history, if not his actual music, but wouldn’t seek it out.
Yee haw
Not really for me but I like Willie’s voice
it's not my taste, it's a bit monotonous, but some people like it
Heard this a while back and thought it was pretty good for a genre that's not really my thing. Came back to time of the preacher again and again.
Totally fine!
7/10
Likte det mer enn æ tenke æ kom til å gjøre. Fint og sparsommelig arrangement, er gøy når det plutselig er litt mer instrumentering. Gøy med mellomsporet Down Yonder.
Koselig musikk. Stort minus at alle låten e helt lik. Vippes opp til tre stjerne kun fordi det e Willie Nelson.
Hørt på reise, men det passet bare ikke. Jeg tror man må ha fyr i peisen på ei hytte uten dekning for å virkelig få utbytte av denne skiva. Syntes egentlig det er fint, men sanger som Down Yonder gjør at det er noen automatiske skips.
Gas
Perfect litle song cycle about being Willie.
Leaning low 3 but could be convinced to go a little higher. Grew on me on a second listen but likely won't revisit
I went back through Willie Nelson's discography while listening to this album because I've heard his popular stuff but not any of these songs. Something happened to him in the late 60s/early 70s, and he looks like a completely different person. Like he was a normal, basic white dude, and then one album later, suddenly he's fully Willie Nelson. Otherwise, this was nice but pretty generic old school country.
2.5-3.0
I’m not sure if I “get” Willie. I’ve got tons of respect for his career, idealism, independence, playing, etc. But I’ve never fully gotten the mystique. This is a beauty, though.
C'était très apaisant après avoir dû passer par Napalm Death... Mais peut-être un brin TROP apaisant. Difficile de garder les yeux ouverts un matin après avoir eu un cours et avoir peu dormi. Mais tout de même, belles chansons dans l'ensemble et Willie est et restera toujours absolutely goated. Chanson pref : Just as I am (?) Mention honorable : Time of the Preacher qui revient 3 fois en 15 chansons. Tour du chapeau!
j’avais de la misère à respirer au début cause I was afraid he’d call me a slur, mais quand j’ai appris qu’il était de gauche je me suis détendue. oui j’ai des préjugés envers le country, mais je travaille ACTIVEMENT à les défaire et comrade Willie here is playing a huge part in that journey 👊 chanson préférée : me suis surprise à taper du pied à ‘Can I Sleep in Your Arms’ donc je vais y aller avec celle-là
Love Willie Nelson. I think his country style is a lot more palatable and relatable than most of the genre and listening to this I find it interesting that Willie is not an archetype but a one of a kind performer
A nice listen, I didn’t connect with it in a strong way.
His voice is easy on the ears
surprisinly i liked the idea of a concept country album, i liked this songs (Time of the Preacher, Remember me when the candles lights are gleaming, Hands on the Wheel)
Mukavan letkeää country-musiikkia. Mikään biiseistä ei jäänyt erityisesti mieleen, vaan ne vähän kuin sulautuivat toisiinsa. Eikä sen tarvitse olla huono asia. En ollut varmaan ikinä aiemmin kuunnellut Willie Nelsonia.
I am not really a country music fan but it was pretty decent.
Une bonne country très intéressante à découvrir
I like Willie and he and the other musicians sound fantastic. The women killing thing kind of drags this down.
Time of the Preacher - 4/5 I Couldn't Believe It Was True - 4.5/5 Time of the Preacher Theme - 3/5 Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger - 3/5 Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain - 3/5 Red Headed Stranger - 5/5 Time of the Preacher Theme - Short Version - 3/5 Just as I Am - 3.5/5 Denver - 3/5 O'er the Waves - 3/5 Down Yonder -4/5 Can I Sleep in Your Arms - 3.5/5 Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming) - 3/5 Hands on the Wheel - 3/5 Bandera - 3/5
I enjoyed the album. Not an immediate choice for me to listen too but would listen again and again.
3.5
Sans plus
Mouais, pas horrible mais pas mon style
Yeee ah cowboy
C'est sympa, le genre d'album que j'aurais pas écouté par moi-même mais qui passe bien en fond
It's a nice folk album. Not sure I would own it but I liked it.
I listened to this record back when I reviewed Atardust a few months back. As a whole, I like this album more than that one… even if it didn’t spend ten straight years on the billboard charts. That said, I can’t say I’m particularly enthralled with either. Sleepy country ballads just aren’t my jam.
Kept waiting for Time of the Preacher to show up a 4th time. Honestly, I could have missed it because these songs are EXTREMELY similar. I understand the Willie love, the guy is iconic for multiple reasons. But this mostly bored me
it's 3.5
Great instrumentation (particularly piano work), and I love Willie's voice, but the genre just isn't really within my tastes.
stvarno dobar i lijep kantri album! ne bih ga nikada ovako iz čista mira slušao, ali baš je lijepo i čil bilo
No muy fan del género. Música muy tranquila y sencilla, no por eso mala música, al contrario, hacer que algo sencillo suene muy bien puede ser retador. Aún así, no es el estilo de música que me gusta escuchar. Lo que me gustó: las letras, son muy poéticas; la forma musical de cada pista es muy buena y ordenada, son como sonetos; el uso de pocos instrumentos y aún así tener un sonido con mucho carácter; no me cansó el disco, la verdad tiene una duración decente y cada pista es disfrutable ya que no es empalagoso con el estilo. En fin, buen disco
Laid back pleasant album.
5/10
He has a voice that you want to spend time with. You could happily listen to it tell you stories for days like a comforting grandpa retelling tales from his youth. Perfectly pleasant without the feel of being groundbreaking. Although I don't know the genre well enough to know whether it might have been.
Compared to some great albums on this list, this felt a bit like a Ferrero Rocher. Small, delightful, not particularly satisfying, but good at what it does. Hearing 2m and sub 2m songs makes a nice change - I just start nodding my head and *poof* its gone. Lyrics are more on the 'outlaw' side, which I always appreciate. Too sweet to give less than a 3, too insubstantial to give more.
Música para señores de rancho. Para levantar la pala con café negro en la mano.
I had no idea what I was expecting going in, but 1. it was not this and 2. I liked what it actually is a lot more than I expected to. I actually sorta hate most country and I think had basically never heard (or clocked that I was listening to anyway) a Willie Nelson song other than On the Road Again. So I was pleasantly surprised by this! Apparently it's also mostly covers of old country tunes, as well. Makes sense, it sounds like it. I especially liked the little honky tonk break that was Down Yonder. The rest of the record is kinda samey (not in a bad way, it's short enough for that) so it was a pleasant little surprise in the back half.
Blue Eyes is a Top 1000 song for me, I love Willie's general "pace", if that makes sense, but nothing else snapped enough for me to be like "yes, a 4 it is", so here we are
"Don't boss him, don't cross him, he's wild in his sorrow." It really seems relevant to keep in mind that murdering someone for attempted horse theft was considered ok back in the wild west? Anyhow, this does seem like a great album within its genre and from this time period. A 3.5 for sure, makes me want to hang out at a camp fire.
Ah Willie. Such a wordsmith. Folks forget what a good guitar player he is. Not just a three chord country guy.
Respect for Willie but not for me
Don’t mind Willie, just wasn’t feeling it today
5/10 When I think of country music, Willie Nelson is the kind of stuff I'm thinking about - not the pop country stuff that pops up on the Billboard 100. That being said... This is good country, but I don't really find it very interesting. Nothing really grabbed me. It's a little too stripped down. His voice is terrific though, pure country. Good for what it is, but not for me.
Good album. Willie has a great voice and the songs are well written. The pared down instrumentation and the mellowness make this an understated album. It's good but nothing grabbed me and made me want to listen again.
Willie Nelson’s music is not my cup of tea. But I do recognize him as an American icon who deserves every respect.
Powerfully sparse. Beautiful soul.
Wow! Willie Nelson has a lovely voice.
I'd like to give this a second listen and see if it strikes me differently. I thought it was good, not great.
Just walking down the middle of that slow sad country road eh? I like Willie Nelson, and I like some of his music, but this didn’t quite connect for me. It was okay, maybe a bit bland? His voice is just class, it’s beautiful, and the music certainly does set a mood. 3.0/5.0 Best Song: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Really wanted to like this album, but it was exceptionally mid. They are perfectly pleasant country tunes, but nothing that really gets you excited.
Not bad but it is kind of self similar throughout. There were times I thought I had it looping or something some of the melodies were so similar. It's good for those downtrodden moods for sure.
He had a really nice voice, and I like the brevity of the songs. They all kinda blend together which kinda gets old over time
Southern charm bottled in fifteen tracks. A lot of simple songs played extravagantly. I found myself expecting but not getting emotional resonance from many of the songs here, despite feeling their honesty. It’s somewhat of a paradoxical concept, but I think it’s rooted from the simplicity of the songs. I went to make it clear that they are simple but not technically dull. However, there also was not a strong tether that I could latch onto and feel heavy emotion from. I have a measure of appreciation of a song like Hands on the Wheel, but I feel like it wasn’t dynamic enough and dragged on. Despite only being slightly over thirty minutes, there are moments where you can still feel the minutes of some songs, which represents a structural problem to me. There is joy in the lightheartedness of the album, and it is something to play to make your day a little sunnier, but there was a deeper element that I found was missing. Faves: I Couldn’t Believe It Was True, Bandera, Can I Sleep in Your Arms, Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)
Un poco monótona la primera mitad. Si se ve lo influyente que fue para el country posterior, igual me gustó, pero no es precisamente mi género
Overall: 6/10 Not a bad way to spend half an hour. I've always though Willie has a nice voice for specific types of country, and it's definitely the slower stuff here that I enjoy the most. I also like the repeating motifs of this album, they really make it feel like a cohesive piece of work. I did find myself getting a bit tired of his style near the end, and if this was any longer I probably would be giving it a lower rating, but it's a solid album in a genre I still don't have a ton of love for. Fav Song: Red Headed Stranger
***A good,easy listening album
Good sixties album from one of the kings of C&W
Nunca tinha parado para ouvir um álbum country de verdade, foi uma experiência muito interessante. Ele é muito calmo e relaxante de ouvir. "Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain" e "Time of the Preacher" são as melhores para mim.
First country album of this list for me. Feels homey and nostalgia to me.
Easy listening.
Not my thing, but enjoyed the album driving today.
javel // koselig høydepunkt: Down Yonder, Can I Sleep In Your Arms?
Surprised to see Willie Nelson pop back up so soon on here but it’s always welcome. Country music is something i’d never seek out usually but i think if im in the right mood i’d chuck this one Bandera lowkey gave me some animal crossing vibes half way through, thought i accidentally switched tracks
I usually do not listen to country but this album fascinated me. Very bare instrumentation and melancholic voice. I had limited time today to listen to it carefully, but In the future I'll return to it paying closer attention to the lyrics. 3.75/5
Certainly a Willie Nelson album. If you like Willie then you probably love this album as every song sounds like Willie Nelson singing while playing guitar. 6/10
I dont really care much for country, solid record tho
Country's not really my thing. I don't mind some of Willie's works. This was just OK for me.
Country en estado puro, solo voces, guitarras y algún piano. Bastante bueno. Temas cortos y muy agradables. El álbum es muy coherente aunque podría resultar repetitivo, pero no baja su calidad en ningún momento, no tiene temas de relleno aunque muchos suenen muy parecidos. 6/10.
Pretty good, not Willie's best
Its background music - no song really grabs you by the balls
Great for feeling nostalgic and kinda messy
This is the country music i could get behind. However, it seems like there are a few fully mapped out songs and others are just deconstructions of the same lines or sounds
As always, I'm way out of my comfort zone with country music. I like Willie Nelson's voice and lots of the song writing. On this record, I really admired how many of the tracks are less than 2 minutes long, or even under 1 minute. Absolutely no fucking around here - just cranking the song and moving on. I don't have this feeling with many genres or sub-genres (even the first time I hear them), but something about country music tells me this will always be someone else's music, and will never mean much to me. 3.5*
Hey, that's this old guy from Monk!
an interesting concept with really good singing, but even clocking in at a mere 33 minutes, this felt dreadfully slow. it's nice! but slow. maybe i'm just too much of a coastal-elite urbanist city slicker to appreciate outlaw country, but also even for as nice as wilie nelson's singing is, i do generally prefer female vocalists as a side note. this whole album is quaint and charming, but that's about it for me. my only real in roads to country, aside from country-influenced artists who i like (eg, faye webster), is my late grandmother's obsession with garth brooks. it all sounds nearly identical to me.
I spent a lot of my teenage years in a rural island in Canada and people there were very proud of being from the "country" and I god damn hated it. My hour-and-a-half school journey on the bus played exclusively country music, and every friend of the family I was forced to visit would give the same spiel nearly everytime about how "new country sucks, but that old country? That's the good stuff." Then they'd get drunk on piss water beer and listen to albums like this. You'd think that would mean I've grown a deep hatred of albums like this but it has instead created a perverse nostalgia. So despite this being an album I do have to mark down for being so damn slow for the most part, I did still find it kind of charming. It's far from the best country album I've heard, again it is just too slow for me, but it has some pretty nice singing and a concept throughline that almost kept me engaged! Almost!
I liked it, was a little slower than music I usually listen to but it was nice
A few great songs
it just all begins to blend together and I hate to say it but the vocals begin to sound quack-ish. not enough edge
Normally I love a concept album, but something about the genre of this one makes it feel a bit like a caricature of itself. I feel like I’m inside a western. I’m sure it’s for someone, but it’s not for me!
6 - AVERAGE
3.5
This was the palate cleanser I needed after yesterday's album. I don't even like country very much, but at least this album has personality. Truthfully, I don't have much to say about it. It's very easy listening. There's something about Willie's voice that speaks to me. Strong 3
I wonder if he's ever smoked a joint
Dang Willie could write a song
was pretty decent, another classic. i usually don't listen to old country like this, so it's not really my style, but i thought it was really well written. i liked can i sleep in your arms and time of the preacher and its recurrence throughout the album. 6/10
not my tempo but i enjoyed parts of it thoroughly
This puffs for you Willie
enjoyed this more than i thought i would
Not really into country but it was a good listen.
Classic but boring and all songs sounded the same
Solid country album. I like a bit of Willie and it was interesting to look back a bit into his catalogue. Made me go back to his first album, which i also really enjoyed.
very quick, not totally my vibe but I did enjoy the casual listen
Really nice
I’m not generally a fan of country music. This album however I found side 1 quite compelling. Side 2 was not so much to my taste. A little too ho down…
Interesting to read the history of this and also the creative control meaning it stayed in its original form and then 💥. Let’s see… Maybe hadn’t fully noticed the quality in his voice before. A relaxing, sweet mosey through this story and journey. Settling in a way. Enjoyed it being a concept album and his talent. Didn’t grab me in a 😱 way, but more than pleasant enough (3.5)
I don’t how long the regular version of this is as I ended up listened to the Expanded Edition which had 19 tracks - although still only came in at under 43 mins. The songs are certainly not long ones are they! It was fine, but not something I’d go out of my way to listen to again.
Didn't set me on fire but ai do enjoy a country ballard
Willie!!! Of course Willie is a classic artist in pop culture and someone who has reshaped country music in his decades long career. I know the hits, but again haven’t really sat down and ever listened to an album. Time of the Preacher This is one of my favorite genres/styles of country music - the true storytelling of it all. This sounds like an epic set up, like a true villain origin story. I take it to mean that this preacher really didn’t know what he was talking about prior to his love leaving him and was basically talking to talk, but after going through this breakup he had to get serious and start learning what his life is going to be like without this love I Couldn’t Believe It Was True Aw a lil breakup song. He can’t believe his love is no longer there but seems to want the best for her, even if that’s without him. He seems to still be reeling from the shock of the breakup. Time of the Preacher Okay he seems to be moving out of sadness now and maybe into anger? “The lesson is over and the killin’s begun” so he went from preaching to learning to killing now ??? Yikes. This one def feels darker. Blue Rock Montana Uh oh, aparently this long lost love went off with another man. And he killed them both????? Damn Willie. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Aw this one is sad. Does he feel bad that he killed his old lover? I can see this song working as a way to reminisce about his lost love because she left him but also now being dead he may be mouring her. The guitar in this one is beautiful. Red Headed Stranger Ok so HE is the red headed stranger after he killed the love of his life for cheating. Each chorus explaining how everyone basically just needs to leave him alone in his grief. Uh oh, now a new woman is getting involved…and is also now dead because she “crossed him”. Time of the Preacher v2 Is this story finally ending while not really ending? Basically saying life moves on. Another gorg guitar. Just as I Am - Instrumental Denver Oh okay so he’s fine now in Denver, he’s moved on? He’s talking about smiling with this new woman now (similar to how he killed his old lover in Blue Rock Montana) but now is able to smile again after she hurt him. O’er the Waves - Instrumental Down Yonder - Instrumental Can I Sleep in Your Arms This one is wayyyy slower. Very sweet, he’s basically begging this new woman to love him after he’s picked up the pieces of his old lover screwing him over. He seems to be opening up again. Gorggggg piano at the end here. Remember Me (When the Candles are Gleaming) He WAS faithful and loving to this woman until she did him dirty. Now he’s saying that all of that is null and void basically. The vows from before mean nothing and he’s moving on. He almost wants this woman to remember him and remember their time together because it probably was good at one point and he was good to her; almost wanting her to sit at night and think about them (even though she’s dead now?) Hands on the Wheel This one is such an open love song, it’s beautiful. “With no place to hide, I looked in your eyes and found myself in you,” He feels like he has a more intentional grasp on this relationship after living his life (he is now an old man) and knowing his life was meant to be with this new woman he found after his mess of grief and pain. Nelson has SUCH an emotional voice for this song it’s heartbreaking. It really feels like the closer for this album and this story - like he’s made peace. Bandera - instrumental Listening to this, this feels like a time for reflection over the red headed stranger’s life and how he is finally at peace and life does continue to go on. From preaching to learning to killing to healing, while not exactly in those exact terms (don’t kill people), this album can be used to accompany the span of many human emotions after pain and finally come to a place of acceptance. Overall - 6.8 Wow what a quick album!! I didn’t give each song an individual rating because most were like a minute long, but I really liked this album. Super cohesive and emotional delivery from Willie. There is clear imagery used here to build the world of a 1901 western and I really felt pulled in. It’s also a masterclass in arrangement as many of these songs were not written for this album, but were covers that have been made to fit into the story here. I can’t see myself reaching for this body of work in terms of re-listenability, but I love how simple and beautiful these songs ended up coming together.
Repetitive/themed but I see why it made the list. Rhymes were fun.
pleasant country music
Fun listen, just not my type of music
na początku buja główką ale jest tak nudne pod koniec to gówno brzmi cały czas tak samo
Just fine
not my style but some songs stood out
Not too shabby country, all things considered!
Short songs on a short album that has hooks and doesn't overstay its welcome. Top tracks: "Down Yonder," "Red Headed Stranger," "Hands on the Wheel"
very slow yet relaxing
All the songs on this album sounded the same. It was a good sound, but I didn’t need to hear it for 33 minutes straight
these are all generally good songs and i love folk but got boring after awhile
Love the harmonica but so much filler
Time of the preaaaacherrrrrr. It was okay
Really Nice Country Album. I‘m a fan
Fine. Could throw on in the background, but its not something I'm seeking out. It's friggin Willie Nelson, what do you expect?
Super chill country folk. Det er super godt at lytte til, men jeg synes tracks falder sammen. Det er ikke nødvendigvis skidt i sig selv, det gør det bare rigtig godt at lytte samlet til synes jeg.
Good Ole Willie Nelson. Not much to say but it was a great country album Songs saved: Time of the Preacher, I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Red Headed Stranger, Hands on the Wheel 7/10
6/10
Nice easy listening willie
Wel leuk, geinige overgangen tussen nummers. Maar wel teveel hetzelfde, ook naar mijn mening te vaak een nummer herhalend in het album
Sounds lovely, but mildly meandering lyrically
Not bad, but not really my thing either. Closer than I would have expected though.
chill mais au final la majorité des chansons m'ont pas emportée et j'ai trouvé ça assez répétitif mais après vsy c de la country je suis pas habituée
I know some of his hits, not many. I'm looking forward to giving this record a spin. Okay, one song in, "Time of the Preacher", and now "Bottles & Bibles" by Tyler Childers sounds like a reimagining. I had " Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" already favorited. I really like how warm the production sounds on most of these songs. "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" is great too. While I don't see me adding this album to the rotation, I liked it.
Sve što znam o Willie Nelsonu prije slušanja ovog albuma je da je bio u epizodi Monka. Inače je country žanr koji najslabije prolazi kod mene ali ovo ne mogu da mrzim nikako. Klasa za sebe je Willie.
Perfectly serviceable country. Prefer more of a Johnny Cash style though.
Odotin vähän enemmän. Aika tasapaksua
I found this album pleasant, which is a good start for a genre not well worn by myself. It had a gentle flow with a warm vibe about it (especially the vocal). I do enjoy the delicate rolling plucks of the guitar and the odd nimble bass dropping in. It also had a variation of pace which was welcome (though predominently slow). It was this that kept its focus on my mind while I got on with things. My main complaint is it failed to really find a massive shift in the presentation of the music. This lead it away from being majorly compelling. Perhaps a bit dull / simplistic in the end but in contradition a dull I quite enjoyed.
Although I have never been an overt fan of Willie, I am into a few things that could be described as Willie-adjacent so was happy to give it a go. I can see the quality, I get that if you are a serious Willie fan you would enjoy the simplicity and rawness. Its a stripped back, exposed performance which probably connects with enthusiasts. Unfortunately, I found the overall performance pretty limp. There were a couple of spurts of interest, but they came and went throughout the album and didn't last very long. By the end of the session, my disinterest in Willie was confirmed. Totally acceptable but not an experience I will be returning to.
Not as good as the last Willie album but still pretty solid.
I don’t know much about country music but it’s undeniable the distinct singing voice that this guy has. This style of country from this era sounds nice and warm, a very friendly and inviting listen. There’s really nothing offensive about this and it doesn’t sound like it’s pushing any boundaries but I suppose that would be the point. I would have to listen to a whole lot more country albums, especially from this era, to really make any sort of judgement about whether this album is necessary listening or not. For now it was just a pleasant listen. I’m not sure if I would ever have any reason to return to this album however I’m pretty sure I’m going to check out some other albums by him. p.s. As I get further into this project I’m realizing how much an album’s context in one’s life would influence the feeling that one would have of a particular album being essential and a must listen. Even if I don’t understand an album or a certain style of music I’m usually not that bothered by the music and wholly realize my failures to understand the music deeply is dependent on the way my life has been lived up to this point but I am quite sure that it’s possible to get to a good level of understanding somehow depending on situations of my life in the future.
Angenehm anzuhören, aber nicht so meins.
Enjoyable and not too long Willie. Just how I like it.
These songs could be described as country bagatelles. With a couple of exceptions, all the songs are very short. Almost half are under two minutes. The longer ones have the obvious advantage of allowing build-up and progression within a track, which Can I Sleep in Your Arms (the longest song here) does well, and which Hands on the Wheel does less well. I found myself thinking about Willie's Stardust album (which I've heard already and given a 4). But I have very little memory of it, so this is sort of a fresh slate. I think both are pretty Dylanesque, and maybe a bit "behind their time" – there's nothing that really speaks to the year 1975 or anywhere past it. Indeed, Red Headed Stranger could've been from the year 1960 and I wouldn't've have batted an eye. The first four tracks are pretty similar to one another and could reasonably be mistaken. Apart from I Couldn't Believe It Was True being slightly faster in pace, they're all slow, mildly dragging pieces with pretty melodies and extremely simple instrumentation and chord progressions. Blue Eyed Crying In the Rain is a subtle but appreciated improvement, the high acoustic guitar solo being a big highlight. Red Headed Stranger is a solid continuation of the higher-energy pieces and is another highlight. Can Willie continue the streak? ...No. The "Short Version" of Time of the Preacher should just be left out of the discussion, though the track it leads into, Just as I Am, introduces a lovely piano part, which is continued a few tracks later with the straightforward ragtime instrumental Down Yonder. 3/5 Key tracks: I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain, Red Headed Stranger
I didn't particularly like it; I didn't particularly dislike it. Not my favourite genre of music by a country mile.
This was ok. Country is not my thing but this was decent to listen to.
Classic Willie. What more could you ask for
Willie Nelson is a national treasure. His songwriting and singing voice are so expressive. Nothing reached out to grab me on this album — no songs i recognized or needed to hear again immediately. But the album is cohesive and wonderful and represents Willie well. A 3.
Good album, not a giant Willie fan but this wasn’t bad.
First listen
You know, after only getting to hear On The Road Again, it’s nice to expand on Willie Nelson. From this album, I consider him on the better end of country music. I like how the music’s more calm than corny, like a lot of other classic country albums. It’s a nice concept album too, though I wish it didn’t warrant hearing Time of the Preacher 3 times. And also the album starts to drag a bit on side 2. I think I lost track of the concept by O’er the Waves. It’s certainly one of the better country albums I’ve gotten, though from me, that’s not saying much. Favorite track: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Other hits: I Couldn’t Believe It Was True, Red Headed Stranger, Just As I Am, Can I Sleep In Your Arms, Bandera
Vintage Willie.
This was fine
Not a big Willie fan but it was rather chill
I really enjoyed this! I'm a sucker for singer-songwriter music (although it has to be good)...
ont my favourite kind of music, but probably the best of the style ive heard at least (which is not much)
Willie Nelson's ability to tell a story with his voice and his guitar are unmatched.
beautiful
I hardly ever listen to country music, but this album was easy on my ears. The crisp, clean guitar tone grew on me. But somehow, no matter how many times I listened, it still didn’t hit me as much as I hoped it would. I almost feel a bit disappointed in myself for that.
Quaint little album. Gives you the vibe of sitting by a campfire on the prairie. The tracks all feel pretty similar, but it's a peaceful vibe, sometimes somber, sometimes reflective. Most songs are very short, around two minutes. But the strongest track is probably the longest one - "Can I Sleep in Your Arms." I also liked "Blue eyes crying in the rain," the title track "Red Headed Stranger," and "Time of the Preacher"
This one's really stripped down, not as much as a rambler as his 70s stuff usually is. It's a unique approach for Willie and it does sound like it's recorded privately for a small audience which has its appeal. But even though Willie was not in the habit of doing this, it wasn't particularly uncommon for country, folk or adult contemporary artists to try it out & the songs on this are a lot hokier than Townes Van Zandt, for example. The Apple Music write-up name drops McCabe and Mrs. Miller in a feeble attempt to appeal to me specifically but that movie notably uses Leonard Cohen & with all due respect to Willie, him and Leonard are quite different. What Red Head Stranger reminds me more of is the Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid soundtrack, which - despite having Knockin' On Heaven's Door - is not one of my preferred Dylan albums. Favorite Tracks: I Couldn't Believe It Was True, Red Headed Preacher, Can I Sleep In Your Arms, Bandera
One of the best voices ever, even if the songs didn't grab me
All of the tracks on this one kinda of sound the same, which is fine because its Willie.
I really did enjoy this. It's unusual and interesting.
i was really surprised by the variety of genre here. i added discraceland eps to my queue to learn more about willie nelson, its a two parter so that has me intrigued. i doubt ill listen again
His eighteenth album. Country. Stripped back music. Simple sounds with great lyrical stories being told. I am not a huge fan of Country but this is a good album.
Another country classic. Favorite track: Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain
Very much old fashioned country. Not unpleasant, but nothing really stands out to me either.
I'm not a country guy but this is better than average country so I can give it a 3. Still don't like the entire basis of the genre though.
i usually would dislike country but this album wasn't very over the top and had some good sounds I enjoyed, but I don't think I would revisit it much at all.
I liked this more than I thought. But it doesn’t really explain how Willie Nelson is a household name.
Good.
idk standard fare for country music
Enjoyed the album, I love a concept album! There were some real highlights (Blue Eyes Crying in The Rain) but also some less enjoyable bits (the instrumental songs)
At its best it reminds me of Jonny Cash
There is absolutely nothing subversive or surprising about Red Headed Stranger. Willie Nelson is as straight up as they come providing some truly robust country music that is often wistful and occasionally (my favourite bits) even a little romantic. There is an admirable confidence and clarity to the performances which never leave you in any doubt that Nelson knows how to craft a song.
It is, a solid 3 from me, nice narrative style and good sounds but never gripped me
not really my thing, but i appreciate the artistry
3.5
I don't have a lot to say about this. I'm not a huge country fan but this was a fine listen although really failed to do a lot beyond provide a background soundtrack. Generally it was a bit slow and ponderous b perhaps in another context it would work better.
I'm glad I gave it a listen. There's some beautiful subtle details, especially with the guitar work, and the lyrics are enunciated clearly. This is a concept album done right. A little too Americana for me, though. I think I need more time to adequately rate this, it feels more complex and mature as the listens multiply, and it's an easy listen to repeat as long as you're in a relaxed mood. 2.8/5
It's not bad, but nothing jumped out enough to rate it higher. Possibly better on relistens, but who's got time for that?
Anodyne
Slightly sleepy country. 3.
Entspannter Western. Hab ich gern gehört 6,5/10
It was fine, but admittedly a little too sad cowboy for me to really get into.
Like it, especially the singing. Probably wouldn’t listen again. Found most of the songs too short almost like they’re over before they start.
Nice collection of country songs. Good production and a sort of concept album. Don’t really like his voice though. Can imagine it better with a Nebraska era Bruce or even Jonny Cash.
Not the worst thing I have listened to…average album.
Unfortunately I had written a long review and the page refreshed and got lost, so suffice to say I'm not an aficionado on Country but do own some Willie and like some of his work. This one is okay, but I dislike the Time of the Preacher theme and it comes in 3 times, and by the last one I'm reaching for the stop button. Blue Eyes in the Rain and Can I Sleep in Your Arms are highlights, as they are less about a concept and more about feeling (but worryingly neither are written by Nelson). There are a series of very short songs in the middle of the album which don't appeal to me like the standard Over the Water and then honky-tonk of Down Yonder. So overall with the few highs (the title song is also good) but many underwhelming lows, I can only give it a 3, but have struggled with this and had to listen to it a few times as I'm really not sure (so may revisit).
Fine
Moj prvi instinkt je, da mi tole ne bo všeč. Komadi so kar kratki; na albumu je 15 komadov, konc si pa v 33 minutah. Načeloma je neka zgodba (naj bi bil concept album) in Willie s svojim malce žalostnim glasom pripoveduje o možakarju, ki je na begu, potem ko je ubil ženo & njenega ljubimca. En komad je bil tko trikrat ("Time of the Preacher"). "Down Yonder" je hiter klavirski jig, en prej je bil pa valček-like ("O'er the Waves"). Najdaljši komad na albumu (5 minut, 24 sekund!) je v bistvu cover komada "Can I Sleep in Your Arms". Lep komad. Not for me, ampak ne morš pa trdit, da je slaba muska.
Alright country. Not my style but nothing to complain about, enjoyed his voice. Not quite sure I've ever actually listened to more than 2 of his songs
Not a big country fan. Very sombre music. Willie Nelson has a great voice.