Album Review – Lukas Nelson’s “American Romance (too)”

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Americana (#570) on the Country DDS

There’s one way to remove yourself from the overbearing shadow of a maternal or paternal legacy in music, and quell the criticisms of nepo baby privilege. You can just be so damn good, you blow past all that banter.

A dispassionate assessment of the talent profile of Lukas Nelson will conclude that as a singer, guitar player, and even in his finest moments as a songwriter, Lukas Nelson can rival pops. Of course, nobody is Willie, and nobody ever will be. But it’s Lukas who is confidently the keeper of the Nelson flame. It’s only been finding the drive and motivation over the years to codify that belief in the American mind that has kept that assessment from being self-evident.

In what is his first official solo effort after moving on from his original band Promise of the Real, Lukas Nelson flexes his songwriting skills, shows off the latitude of his musical prowess, and perhaps once and for all establishes a legacy under his own name. American Romance is what the album is called, and like the title implies, it’s a journey through the seasons of relationships, from a future full of promise, to irreparable implosion and failure.

What’s hard to assign to the album is the designation of “Traditional Country,” even though the Grammys felt inclined to rubber stamp it as such when it was submitted to the Recording Academy, receiving a nomination in the new category. Instead it’s the breadth of influences, textures, and moods that Lukas Nelson works with that’s one of the album’s strong selling points, and keeps the listener intrigued throughout the dozen tracks.

Yes, there’s traditional country here, namely the fiddle and steel-driven “Outsmarted,” which in early pass thrus of the album immediately reveals itself as a keeper. The heartbreaking ending of “You Were It” is reminiscent of the sparse moments of Red Headed Stranger, and is a sensational tune itself. But there’s so much more going on here, including rock and a greater amalgam of roots. American Romance is a textbook Americana album according to the conventional definition of such things.


But most importantly, American Romance is a Lukas Nelson album, showing off the second generation performer’s range. Aaron Raitiere co-writes the opening song “Ain’t Done” with Lukas, and you’re immediately bought in. “Pretty Much” is everything you want from a love song, and acts as a launching pad for the vocal performance from Lukas, soaring through an enveloping chorus. “Born Runnin’ Outta Time” is another track hard to get enough of, with steel guitar texturing the rock song.

Speaking of second generation performers, it’s Shooter Jennings who’s guilty of getting all of these various approaches to songs to play nice with each other, and make it into a cohesive expression. Though it’s generally successful in this pursuit, the tracks at times feel disparate to the point where it’s a little hard to immerse yourself into this project as a whole.

What binds everything together is Nelson’s writing that’s always been wise beyond his years—and now that he’s in his mid 30s, is wise, reflective, and full of captivating perspective irrespective of age. Whether it’s one specific relationship arc or a host of them Lukas sings about, he makes you feel these moments deeper than these well-crafted and infectious tracks confer alone.

Originally released in June, the deluxe edition of the album titled American Romance, too released on December 12th comes with two new songs, including “A Certain Someone” that carries the romance story a step further. It’s one of two tracks from the release that were produced by Anderson East as opposed to Shooter.

For some, what Lukas Nelson accomplished with American Romance was something few if anyone else topped in 2025. Even if it isn’t “traditional country,” after listening through, it’s hard to argue against it receiving a Grammy nomination for something. But it’s not just because his name or who his dad is. It’s because Lukas Nelson has well-established a name all his own, and perhaps never as strongly as through this solo effort.

8.2/10

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