Willie Nelson
Milk Cow Blues
Island records
Rating: 9

Country or rock, it’s hard to find an artist who has affected modern music as much as the Red Headed Stranger, Wille Nelson. Year after year. album after album. he has plugged away with his title as one of America’s greatest treasures. He never once stopped trying, never once just put out music to make money. Even in the face of bankruptcy he came back to the limelight. A good friend of mine remembers back nearly 20 years to the first time her parents took her to see Willie. He was great then and he’s only gotten better with age. 
Even though Willie Nelson is usually labeled country, his music spans so much more than one genre. His latest work is a interesting take on the blues. A few originals and a few covers make Milk Cow Blues a variety of melodies and heart that only a master could put together. Willie is not the type of artist to ever worry about how his records will “go over.” He does his best on every album, and if the time is right, people will recognize it.
Only a legend like Willie Nelson can pull together the entourage of blues artists on this album. From the most recognized name in blues, B. B. King, to the fastest rising stars, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Johnny Lang, the album reads like a blues hall of fame. And who better to lead the pack than the man who has seen it all. Milk Cow Blues is his first official venture into the blues, but he fields it like a pro. The veterans can hardly keep up with this road-worn hero. Don’t be fooled by the crossover though. Willie is a master of everything he tries (he originally coined the phrase “She could suck the chrome right off a trailer hitch ... ” in a movie role a long time ago).
Willie definitely isn’t new to somber tunes. If country music wasn’t sad enough in the first place (“There’s a Tear in My Beer” still gets me a little choked up ... maybe not), Willie took it to the next step a few times already. Many people consider “Blue Eye’s Cryin’ in the Rain” his breakthrough single. This is my personal favorite song of his and easily the saddest song I’ve ever heard in my life.
A big hit off the album Stardust, “Georgia On My Mind,” was a cover of soul man Ray Charles. “Crazy” (included on this album) is also a terribly sad song made famous by Patsy Cline. So all in all, he should not be considered a rookie at the blues. This is just the first time he “offically” dropped himself into the label. And with all the people who join him, this ablum never had a chance to be anything but terrific.
The first track, “Milk Cow Blues,” is a great opener for a blues album. It introduces the listener to the bitter-sweet type of blues that make up Milk Cow Blues. The listener will be caressed for 15 tracks of somber and melodic blues. There aren’t many full-throated moans on this album, just mostly sad and smokey-jazz club tunes. The last track is “Texas Flood,” a cover of the late King of Blues, Stevie Ray Vaughan. This track features Kenny Wayne Shepherd with the usual crazy guitar riffs, but takes a twist with calm vocals. It’s odd for Stevie fans, but it works on a really different level. You can’t go wrong with America’s most recognized voice. The album flows like only that of a master’s can. The album scores an incredibly high 9 out of 10. For any other artist this would be the crowning acheivement of their career, but for Willie it’s just another album. This is the only reason the album doesn’t score higher. Stardust and Red Headed Stranger are both a little more solid as albums and had stronger singles. But overall, it will be one of the most listened to albums I’ve bought this year.