Not your dad's Willie

Some of you may only know Willie Nelson as that guy who sings those songs you never heard. To others, he's the old-school pothead from "Half Baked." Willie Nelson's true legacy is as one of the greatest country singers ever. His music is perfect for saloons or movies such as "Smokey and the Bandit." He has a voice that just makes you believe what he's singing about, a weathered voice that couldn't lie. And no one can argue with those braids.\nPerhaps that's why it's so sad to listen to this album. It's not because the consummate balladeer is singing those songs he does so well but because this is just not a Willie Nelson album. Gone are the days of acoustic twang. Say hello to the country that Rascal Flatts built. \nOverproduced pop stylings dominate this album. Don't believe me? Just take one listen to Willie Nelson's "Gravedigger." That's right, Willie covered Dave Matthews. He could have picked a kick-ass song (like Johnny Cash did with Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt"), but he picked Dave Matthews instead. I am ashamed to say that I honestly believe Dave sang it better.\nThat's not to say there aren't some decent songs. "Over You Again" is definitely the Willie voice I recognize, and the duet with Kenny Chesney "Worry B Gone" has a kind of fun twang to it. A tune like "You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore" will fit in any saloon. But the rest aren't standouts because you could hear the same kind of songs from Big and Rich, Toby Keith or Tim McGraw.\nKenny Chesney co-produced the album, which makes you wonder if even Willie recognizes that the current generation no longer knows him as a brilliant songwriter and singer. Is he afraid that without a horrible contemporary country singer to attach to the billing, no one will buy his music? \nSadly, this record would probably have been better off being all Willie, all stoned, all the time.