“Moment of Forever” – Willie Nelson

Rating : 6.5 / 10

A track-by-track review

1) “Over You Again” – This song sounds reminiscent of tracks found on John Lee Hooker’s “The Best of Friends”. It’s a good kick-off to an album that has blues undertones but still remains country folk at the core.

2) “Moment of Forever” – The title track ironically offers nothing new than the “same ole song and dance” love ballad.

3) “The Bob Song” – This is the most bizarre song on the album. It’s almost a pirate chanty, and with lyrics like “We all act like monkeys sometimes,” it echoes “Ape Man” by The Kinks.

4) “Louisiana” – The most politically satirical track. Willie won’t let us forget that people are forgotten by those who are meant to protect them with scathing lines like “Louisiana, they’re tryin’ to wash us away.”

5) “Gravedigger” – The electric elements in this song give an evil aspect to Willie’s voice. The best word to describe “Gravedigger” is “unforgiven.” This is a haunting Western song.

6) “Keep Me From Blowing Away” – This is a prayer set to music and best set in a Southwest border bar with dirt floors and gray tequila.

7) “Takin’ on Water” – As a mash of blues cliches and not much more, this is the album’s most disappointing song.

8) “Always Now” – Instead of singing Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day,” listen to this and learn to get over it.

9) “I’m Alive” – You might be, but this song is not. Some uplifting lyrics are all this track offers.

10) “When I was Young and Grandma was Old” – This might be a good coming-of-age tale, but the song falls short on content.

11) “Worry B Gone” – Kenny Chesney helps tell this story of sipping and puffing away troubles. Some good social critique make this one worth listening to, but where’s Jimmy Buffet’s blender of booze in all of this?

12) “You Don’t Think I’m Funny Anymore” – This almost sounds like Willie’s farewell song when he sings “This is where the cowboy yields the floor.” It’s not great, it’s not terrible, it’s just a nice song for toe tappin’.

13) “Gotta Serve Somebody” – Willie levels everyone when he says everyone will either serve the Devil or the Lord. Do yourself a favor and listen to Johnny Cash’s “When the Man Comes Around.” It’s a better take on the same idea.

“Moment of Forever” is a worthy attempt with some well-done tracks and some glazed over repetition of previous songs. Willie fans will be happy, but others may just want to borrow it from a buddy.