Willie Nelson – Dream Chaser Review

A half hour of new material from Willie Nelson is a real treat. The veteran songwriter has been touring and working away in the studio for decades and shows no sign of letting up. Each album happens to exist, rather than expect anything from Nelson. His longevity speaks for itself and gives him license to create as he sees fit. Whether that’s performing songs by Merle Haggard or riffing on The Flaming Lips, it’s always an interesting experience with Nelson’s work, and Dream Chaser is no different. A chance to hear Nelson and Bob Dylan work together, as well as a few sentimental highs, that’s what features across this latest studio album from the country hero. Ten more songs from a musician who shows no sign of stopping, and doesn’t need to either. He’s still on the road and has songs in his repertoire still worth hearing, as Dream Chaser proves. Steady, catchy work from Nelson will be no surprise to those invested in his career still, but to those out of the loop, this’ll be a surprise. 

Tender musings on age and what-if’s which are no longer possible are the core of Dream Chaser. The title track and follow-up, Fly Away, are reminiscent of pleasantries worth hearing. Songs of growing old together and looking back on life with a feeling of confidence. It’s what Nelson dearly holds and it’s what comes through across Dream Chaser. His lead single, Dream Chaser, and We’d Make a Good Movie are nice, too. They note down what can’t possibly happen again. Nelson is hardly going to be on the big screen again in some Oscar-winning role, but he can write about it in a manner that reflects on what could have been, or what has been. It’s usually the latter that he notes on Dream Chaser. Moments to reflect on, but there’s more than that to this. Contemplative Nelson at his best on I Can’t Read Your Mind sets the standard for the rest of the album. A few piano notes flowing into place, a little off-kilter guitar work that add to this feeling of anxiety.  

Ironic it may be for Nelson to paint himself as a man who cannot find the right words, it works. Dream Chaser is built around depicting Nelson as a person whose wordplay is sharp and stylish, though not the right line to feed a loved one at the time of a conversation or argument. Those moments linger well across Dream Chaser, a delicate album from Nelson that underscores why listeners may still love his work. He hasn’t lost a step at an age where many may expect him to slow, or stop. Not all of it is great, though. Whiskey Wants Me To feels like a mockery of the current Americana scene but it fails to critique it, instead having Nelson slip into the stock style of the times. It’s a welcome experience with Nelson, who doesn’t sound all that constrained by the usual country tones.  

Upbeat thrills on After All are a nice surprise and then the slowed tempo of Love Overdue feels inevitable, but nice enough too. A Bob Dylan collaboration with I Can’t Read Your Mind is the best of the bunch, but had the collaboration not been announced, you’d assume it was just Nelson. Dylan is not here to leave an imprint on the album, he’s just hammering out a song with musically similar artists, and that’s enough. Dream Chaser has some wonderful moments to it that, like the previous few efforts from Nelson, hold firm. Solid work the whole way through with that tender, country spirit. There’s never a hint of a farewell in this latest albums, to even imply he’s headed anywhere is irresponsible, though it’s in the back of a listener’s mind at all times. Album closer Developing My Pictures hints at more to come, this desire to keep on creating. Long may that continue.