CD Review

Artist: Willie Nelson

Title: Moment Of Forever

Label: Universal Music

Released: Jan 29, 2008

3 ½ Stars

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey

In the song ‘Gravedigger' on Willie Nelson's newest album Moment Of Forever, the lyrics describe someone being 103 as too hard a concept for a child to understand ‘so we'll just say he lived forever.' Well many would agree that Willie Nelson appears to be on his sixth life and he intends to stick around for the full nine he was allotted. I can remember listening to Willie Nelson as a child with his hits ‘Always On My Mind,' ‘On The Road Again,' ‘To All The Girls I've Loved Before,' and seeing him on TV with the Highwaymen (Willie with Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings); thinking he was ancient back then, but it would appear a couple of decades later and he hasn't changed one bit. Not just in appearance does Willie appear to look as he ever did, but the quality of Willie Nelson's music seems not to have dulled over time.

I'm awed by Nelson's staying power as he's not an outstanding singer, he's very political, and seems to prefer to stick to the back roads of fame. Yet, when Willie draws his guitar over his shoulder and pulls a few chords followed by an effortless, almost romantic drawl, we all can easily remember how captivating Willie Nelson truly is.

Moment Of Forever is another classic Willie collection with thirteen tracks of country songs infused with rock. The songs are forceful and edgy, upbeat and delightful to the palate and all Willie Nelson. Songs like ‘Over You Again,' takes you to Willie Nelson more romantic side, whereas ‘The Bob Song' is a playful romp with a hint of vaudeville to it, ‘Gravedigger' is an eerie but intense song. However, perhaps the cheekiest track on Moment Of Forever is the song Louisiana about the recent problems of that state and how the president flew down to take a look with ‘a fat guy and his notepad,' assessing the situation in as unaffected manner as only a politician could muster. Sometimes it just has to be said.

Willie Nelson managed to pulled off a hit, with Toby Keith in 2002, with a track called ‘Beer For My Horses' on Toby Keith's album, and in Moment Of Forever, Willie has another duet alongside Kenny Chesney this time with some broad appeal to it called ‘Worry B Gone.' Chesney also co-produces the album with Buddy Cannon. Living a full life as Willie Nelson is doing has afforded him some exceptional talent collaborating with him on Moment Of Forever. Some of the songs are by Willie, but when they aren't, they are by Kris Kristofferson (Moment Of Forever), Randy Newman (Louisiana), Dave Matthews (Gravedigger), and an exceptional track created by Bob Dylan called ‘Gotta Serve Somebody.'

‘I'm Alive' is a great tribute song to his own life, and how grateful he is, as Willie puts it, for being ‘alive and well.' Being one of the two Highwaymen left, Willie Nelson has remained a storyteller, a charismatic singer and Moment Of Forever stands just as formidable an album beside any of Willie Nelson's other previous works.   

1. Over You Again

2. Moment Of Forever

3. The Bob Song

4. Louisiana

5. Gravedigger

6. Keep Me From Blowing Away

7. Takin' On Water

8. Always Now

9. I'm Alive

10. When I Was Young And Grandma Wasn't Old

11. Worry B Gone (featuring Kenny Chesney)

12. You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore

13. Gotta Serve Somebody /(Hidden Track)You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore