Album Review – Willie Nelson’s “Last Leaf On The Tree”
The Last Leaf On The Tree indeed. Most all of the peers and contemporaries of Willie Nelson have passed on. But here he is at the age of 91, still clinging onto the tree of life, and curiously prolific as he ever was at any point in his career. For his latest project, Willie teams with his youngest son Micah for a sentimental album consisting mostly of cover songs, but a few original songs too. If nothing else, the album gave Willie and Micah lots of quality and creative time together, and moments that will forever be preserved into the grooves of vinyl.
If Willie Nelson has a direct descendant on his family tree and one destined to carry his legacy forward, it’s his next-to-youngest son Lukas Nelson. If anything, Lukas might even be a pound-for-pound better musician than pops. Micah Nelson is the more offbeat, avant-garde artist of Willie’s offspring, inheriting the most free spirited traits of Willie. Micah’s band Particle Kid colors well outside the lines of country, but garners praise for Micah’s often quirky, yet entertaining and insightful songwriting.
You had to fear a little bit that Micah might take this album a little too “out there,” and leave Willie’s country fans behind. But that’s not really the experience of Last Leaf On The Tree. Micah takes advantage of little moments to add his creative flourishes to songs. Yet it’s still Willie Nelson, and Willie’s guitar Trigger with it’s signature vinyl string tone that make the most bold statements, along with some tasteful appearances by harmonica player Mickey Raphael who is just as integral to Willie’s sound as anything.
It wasn’t just Micah calling the shots behind the mixing board, and contributing guitar, piano, as well as ambient sounds from sticks, branches, and rustling leaves on the album. It was also Micah picking most of the songs. This results in some really valuable versions of songs to add to the Willie Nelson legacy. Willie’s take on Beck’s “Lost Cause” wasn’t something we were clamoring for, but we’re glad to have it now. Nelson’s aged voice, and Micah’s interesting treatment results in a worthy version of “House Where Nobody Lives” written by Tom Waits, who also wrote the album’s title track.
But the second half of this album presents some challenges in both perhaps the songs chosen and how they were rendered. When Waylon Jennings got a hold of Neil Young’s “Are You Ready For the Country?,” he created a country hit from it. Though the intent of Micah was to be loose and organic with this rendition, the result is just more sloppy than anything, with the slide guitar, jaw harp, and harmonica all bleeding over each other and Willie, and the vibe wrong throughout.
There’s a few songs on the album that it feels like Micah simply wanted to record as opposed to picking songs that leaned on Willie’s strengths. Willie’s voice sounds especially weathered on this album—something his previous albums have mostly avoided. “Wheels” written by Micah just finds the wrong key, forcing Willie to struggle with the highest notes. Same goes for Neil Young’s “Broken Arrow,” where both men struggle to deliver strong performances in such a high register.
But the album gets back on track with the final two songs. “The Color of Sound” co-written between Willie and Micah is one of the gems of the album, even if it again feels a bit too high of a key for Willie. “The Ghost” is an old Willie Nelson song originally written in 1962. Don’t stop listening after the last beat. There’s a little hidden gem at the end. One of the greatest things about the relationship between Willie and Micah is their shared sense of irreverent humor.
For nearing two decades now, Willie Nelson’s producer extraordinaire has been Buddy Cannon. It was good to get a change of pace for an album, even if it’s a little rough in spots. But really, whether any of us get anything from this album, Willie and Micah got plenty from it, and together. And that was the most important point of Last Leaf On The Tree. Luckily, we all get an opportunity to listen in too.
7/10
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November 5, 2024 @ 11:12 am
Looking forward to hearing this. Heard him play ‘Last Leaf On The Tree’ at Floores Country Store earlier in October. It’s incredible how good he still is at 91.
November 5, 2024 @ 12:48 pm
How long do we think Micah’s been trying to get his dad to cover The Flaming Lips?
November 5, 2024 @ 2:36 pm
Please Charles Arvil Holcomb is Willie’s Nelson’s son. Willie dated Francis Green Holcomb before she was a Holcomb. She was with child when she married Charlie Holcomb. Willie came to Rockwood a long time ago.at 608. N Chamberlin Ave, where Charles lives today. Francis and Charlie have passed but please this is no joke this is as true as My name is Theresa Ann Long!!!
November 5, 2024 @ 3:08 pm
Are You Ready For The Country ? is one of my favourites from the album .
November 5, 2024 @ 3:38 pm
It is a worthy record. My fave track is “Robbed Blind.” I am a huge fan of Keith Richards’ solo stuff.
November 5, 2024 @ 7:51 pm
Keith’s solo records are underrated. The man should seriously make a country album.
November 7, 2024 @ 5:10 pm
I waited for years for the Rod Stewart country album, and when it recently showed up… a lame excuse of an album.
Rod cut some real nice covers and originals in his homemade folk/country hybrid style through the years, especially back in the early 70’s when he peaked. Sadly, the sparks died off long before he finally got around to record a whole album of country(tinged) songs.
A shame, since he’s still one hell of a singer and songwriter (when he bothers).
Hopefully, Keef could turn out a great one for us.
Or maybe Ronnie Wood? He’s no slouch on the steel neither.
Curiously, I expect some “washed-up”, old british rockers to deliver what Nashville won’t…
November 10, 2024 @ 7:53 am
I’ll concur! Ray Davies’ “Working Man’s Cafe” was recorded in Nashville and released by New West. Songs and instruments are far more country than formulaic Nashville and Texas country.
November 5, 2024 @ 6:21 pm
It’s funny—Willie along with others were supposedly put out to pasture by 1990s country. I don’t know if Willie has had the last laugh, but he seems to have completely outlasted that era I figure that in the 2020s, Willie Nelson has put out as many new albums as Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, Leann Rimes, and Shania Twain–combined.(And they’re not throwaway stuff, either.)
November 6, 2024 @ 7:40 am
Maby all those librals he supports can buy his music. He smoked to much dope in his life. Willie don’t Californian my Texas!
November 8, 2024 @ 4:24 pm
My heroes have always been spellcheckers.
November 6, 2024 @ 12:19 pm
Mr. Willie Nelson sounds great at 91 today than he sounded singing “Whiskey River” to me.—- a BBC song he really loves to sing in the 80’s. Spending father and son quality time is a beautiful thing to me; so, good for you: Micah. Lukas thinks he has dad covered already—with the voice and signature hat also. Well, good riddance to you Micah. Good job and God bless in your musical journey.
November 6, 2024 @ 2:06 pm
The man is a country legend pure class
November 7, 2024 @ 5:36 pm
Trigger:
Unrelated question: I have heard a recording by Tanya Tucker of Sin City that sounds fairly recent. I have heard it several times but I cannot find any evidence of its existence. This seems like the sort of thing you can hep me figure out.