Album Review – Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real

On the bright shining morn or shimmering starlit night when Lukas Nelson was passionately conceived, his pops Willie Nelson must have been in rare form, virile and adrenalized for his ripe age, and far removed from any dysfunction of anatomy or failing of spirit. And when his toes curled and the gift of his love was delivered, such a pure and concentrated form of Willie was fervidly conveyed, no degradation occurred in the generational torch passing.
You can legitimately claim that in raw talent, Lukas Nelson might be the most gifted progeny of a country music superstar the world has ever seen. Perhaps Hank Jr. in his prime or some others may have something to say about that, and there’s newer generations of talent out there that may still have some upside potential to show before final judgement is passed. But Lukas Nelson’s ability to both evoke the timeless magic of his dad’s tone and warble, yet renew it with an original delivery all his own—along with the sheer explosiveness and natural ease of his guitar playing—makes him an awe-inspiring specimen for the theory of pedigree.
In simple musical skills, the talent of Lukas might even surpass that of his famous sire. Of course songwriting and style are a bit harder to tabulate, but Lukas is no slouch in these departments either. Yet nearly 10 years into the performing game now, and Lukas Nelson still feels like he’s attempting to find his footing. The issue is not his talent, or his ability to tell a story through song. If anything, it’s astounding how still under-the-radar Lukas Nelson is when measuring these attributes. It’s his inability to choose or discover a definable lane for his career that keeps him curiously obscure when compared to his skill set.
In certain respects you see this indecision play out in his new, self-titled album with The Promise of the Real. The album showcases everything that makes Lukas Nelson an exceptional performer, and worthy of praise for a name all his own, completely divested from his famous father. “Just Outside Of Austin,” with its cutting simplicity and complimentary structure to Lukas’s voice is a timeless song and a perfect example of why you should be paying attention to this performer. The guitar skills Lukas exhibits on the opening song, “Sit Me Down On a Cloud,” and on the extended, 8-minute “Forget About Georgia,” proves that his musical acumen goes far beyond a voice affectation similar to his father’s.
But Lukas Nelson is not country, until he is, and he’s rock and blues, until he isn’t. Naturally country audiences want to gravitate towards him, but he’s not the traditionalist they may hope to find. The psychedelic nature of some of his cuts attract a younger audience, but Lukas also feels like an old soul, implementing steel guitar and backup singers on certain tracks.
Lada Gaga appears on the record, but to what result? Lukas may come across as a little scatterbrained, but he’s trying to forge a musical path all his own from the desire in his heart and the various influences comprising his roots. And despite the sideways glances from some, for those who are willing to be attentive and open-minded, they are rewarded with a diverse, expansive, involved, inspired, and engaging effort never sticking to a single thread of influence, but always adhering to the genre of “real.”
With Lukas, his issue is not capability. It is direction, and focus. Yet this album also has an underlying theme of sorts. Now well into his twenties, it finds Lukas struggling between finding love, and the sense of fear from getting trapped or tied down too quickly. Multiple times on this record, he sings to locations and women as interchangeable, just like Willie and Ray Charles did. It’s similar to that moment when you realize “Georgia On My Mind” isn’t about a state, but about a woman. Or both, or neither. And you realize something about yourself when reflected in the memory of someone else, or someplace different than where you’re standing.
Following in the footsteps of a famous name is a blessing and a curse. It opens doors, yet draws the critical eye of endless comparisons by critics and fans alike. In some respects Lukas seems lost in his own world. He’s the clear heir to the Willie Nelson throne, yet sometimes it seems he would rather sit in a hammock in Hawaii and smoke pot than to soldier forth with the family legacy. And as long as they’re selling Willie Nelson cotton T-shirts for $85 dollars at shows and licensing his face to stick on egregiously-overpriced boutique marijuana products, Lukas’s output isn’t essential to keeping the war chest full.
But someday Willie will be gone and Lukas will still be here. And hopefully Lukas will pick up that legacy and keep moving forward with it. Because a world without Willie is not worth living in, but a world with Lukas is a world where the glimmer of Willie’s legacy still shines bright.
1 3/4 Guns Up (7.5/10)
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August 29, 2017 @ 8:40 am
Wow…Just Outside of Austin immediately feels like a song I’ve heard a million times. I’m not sure if it’s the Tom T. Hall-like phrasing or the arrangement, but I don’t care. It’s great.
August 30, 2017 @ 7:12 am
Agreed.
The first verse has a definite “Gentle On My Mind” vibe … which ain’t a bad thing at all.
September 8, 2017 @ 2:53 pm
Lucas Nelson just got off stage at the PNC Bank venue in NJ. What a God Damn talent. The seats werent even 1/3 full when he went on and his band and him killed it like he was they headlined it. God bless him.
August 29, 2017 @ 8:57 am
Looking forward to listening to this later today.
August 29, 2017 @ 9:03 am
the vivid image of Willie orgasming notwithstanding, great article – i’m checking this out immediately
August 29, 2017 @ 10:37 am
Hahah, yeah, the first paragraph, is very colorful.
August 29, 2017 @ 1:01 pm
i thought it was wonderfully written article into as well. Definitely gonna throw this on after work today!
August 29, 2017 @ 9:12 am
It’s cool that he did a musical cover of Gentle on My Mind as a tribute to Glen Campbell……but it’s weird how he changed the lyrics and the title (Just Outside of Austin). Kind of like when Stapleton did the Etta James tribute by doing her song “I’d Rather Go Blind’ but changed the lyrics and called it “Tennessee Whiskey”…in a further tribute to David Allen Coe. This all gets so confusing! : )
August 29, 2017 @ 9:13 am
I’m sure Lukas will enjoy the description of his conception! Just what he’d expect to see in an album review
August 29, 2017 @ 9:13 am
Listened to this Album through a couple times already, it’s incredibly catchy. He was just on “Walking The Floor” Podcast and talked about how this is the first album that has been released under label and everything he and the band did before was all self promoted and self released. That must have something to do with a bunch of these songs being rerecorded and released on this album. This is not pure country by any stretch but it has a really solid blend and if you like Blues, Rock & Country this is worth a spin.
Check out “If I Started Over” if you want to hear how much he can sound like his father at times:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE3qMRd0SAY&index=12&list=PL94Hrco4JtTkoEtInN-oTal-pOAE1hsMw
August 29, 2017 @ 9:24 am
Just Outside Of Austin is the first song that jumps out at me, and the final three songs: Breath Of My Baby, Forget About Georgia, and If I Started Over are my favorite stretch of the album, and a great way to end it. It’s certainly not a completely cohesive effort, as you mentioned, but an enjoyable listen nonetheless, and one that I’ll certainly return to.
August 29, 2017 @ 9:39 am
He’s channeling his dads old pal Roger Miller on “Austin”. Thought I heard a ghost.
August 29, 2017 @ 9:43 am
Love what I’ve heard of this album so far.
Otherwise I can’t be the only person that sees a resemblance here…
https://youtu.be/Oht9AEq1798
August 29, 2017 @ 9:58 am
I’m so happy you reviewed this album!!
The only thing I’d add is Lukas is the hardest working man in the business. It’s exhausting seeing him at Farm Aid every year. He’s in his band, Neil Young’s band – which is technically his day job (the one that pays), and in his dad’s band. Dude is relentless.
I thought Gaga and Nelson were an item, but that chatter has calmed down. I guess she moves quickly.
I love the album. Great review!
August 29, 2017 @ 10:34 am
Lukas is great. Got to see him a few times at ACL Live and he kills it. He also does a great version of “the sky is crying” (thinking of the anniversary of SRV’s death the other day). Also, thanks for reviewing this because I came over here to get away from politics in Texas 🙂
August 29, 2017 @ 12:42 pm
Come to Houston. I assure you politics is taking a backseat. But, be prepared to witness neighbor helping neighbor, stranger helping stranger and NOBODY invoking a political affiliation.
August 29, 2017 @ 11:40 am
No one could touch Hank jr. in his prime…….
August 29, 2017 @ 12:34 pm
I agree.
August 29, 2017 @ 1:00 pm
Hank Jr. in his prime when he could rip off a blistering guitar solo, and pick up a mandolin or fiddle no problem is probably the only one who could match or surpass Lukas Nelson’s musicals skills at the moment. Influence, importance and such is obviously a whole other discussion, but those two prove that music is something that can live in your blood.
September 2, 2017 @ 3:56 pm
when lucas nelson sells 70 million and has 9 albums in the charts at the same time and is a perineal entertainer of the year ill call him equal to Hank Jr. I personally think Hank 3 blows Lukas away!!
September 2, 2017 @ 10:07 pm
Again, not comparing the influence or commercial appeal of Lukas. I am strictly speaking on the his skill level as a musician. I also mentioned Hank Jr. in the same breath as being someone who would be another fair candidate as the most talented offspring of a star, so I wouldn’t argue against someone making that point. And Hank3 may blow Lukas away (I started this site as basically a fan site for Hank3, so you know how I feel about him). But if you’re not out there touring and releasing records, how can you prove it?
August 29, 2017 @ 2:40 pm
Got the album on Friday and have been listening to it since. The extended “Forget about Georgia” is one of my favorite songs of the year, but the whole album is stellar.
Not sure why, but from the first listen on I can close my eyes and imagine I’m hearing it on an old school vinyl or through an 8-track player. It just has that “throwback” vibe to it, all while remaining current. Not sure if that makes sense, but the feeling is hard to put into words. One of those true feeling that only music can make you feel.
August 29, 2017 @ 3:05 pm
excellent, this goes next to the zeph ohora record
August 29, 2017 @ 7:10 pm
I listened to this on a whim to check it out and enjoyed it a lot.
August 30, 2017 @ 8:17 am
I’ve been listening to this non-stop since it came out! I’ve been waiting on it to drop for awhile. As a long time Willie fan, I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears on Lukas. Great review, Trigger!
August 30, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
Oh yeah i have been following Lukas for years now
He is amazing and as much as i love Willie. I hate that ppl compare i guess its because i love all music and lukas can do it all with an ease that is a gift to tje audience .Texas Flood is aamamazig he can match the ease that SRV had. I am so glad that you validated my review from years ago Thank you for seeing his uniqueness. .
August 30, 2017 @ 1:46 pm
I can certainly say that this is a quality album from about halfway through, I’ll listen to the rest of it on my drive back from work today. Thus far, however, I’m really enjoying it.
August 31, 2017 @ 9:24 am
Having finished the album, I wholeheartedly recommend it. It closes just as strong as it starts, and I think the varied styles Nelson shifts between feel organic, nothing seems like it was shoehorned into the album, it’s just that his methods of artistic expression cover a wide palette.
August 30, 2017 @ 2:58 pm
Not to change the subject, but I find it rather interesting that you haven’t reviewed Josh Abbott’s new album. I think it’s safe to say he isn’t your favorite and I don’t really listen to them either, but in terms of the Texas Country scene impact, they’re on that top tier. A lot of people subscribe to them and, perhaps more importantly, a lot of young Texas guys look to them for trends and what not. Just interesting that nothing’s been said about it.
August 30, 2017 @ 4:02 pm
The new Josh Abbott album is definitely on my radar and I haven’t ruled out reviewing it. He doesn’t really need my help necessarily, and it’s not something I feel needs to be knocked down a notch, so frankly it’s not a priority. With so many albums and only one of me, I gravitate to reviewing the records that I have strong convictions on or have something that I feel is interesting to say about them. Sometimes it takes weeks or months for me to formulate opinions on a record.
August 30, 2017 @ 6:11 pm
Thanks for the response. I totally understand your rationale.
August 30, 2017 @ 3:10 pm
I ike this album. I’m sure there’s plenty to criticize if you’re looking for it but on an emotional level most of it is pretty enjoyable.
August 30, 2017 @ 4:38 pm
This is a winner in my book.Lukas made his name on a bluesy styler initislly, but this is way more country. Check out the track Running Shine. Great story beautiful banjo and steel in the mix. Yeah, I’m thinking this album may be big for him.
August 30, 2017 @ 6:23 pm
Much obliged for the review, Trigger. The tracks I have listened to so far have put this album squarely in my sights.
Lukas’s general vibe rather reminds me of a group called Grand Drive, which had (as its core membership) a couple of expat Aussies and was based in the UK. That is a good thing, as I am (was?) a big fan of theirs.
This guy’s lineage is a lot to live up to, but he seems streets ahead of the mindless pap that the Nashville machine is trying to drop on us all the time. Yep, I reckon I’m a fan from here on out.
August 31, 2017 @ 5:31 pm
I have this on order and like the tracks I have heard so far.
I will be seeing him live along with a second showing of Nikki Lane so looking forward to seeing how he is live.