“Willie Nelson — As he’s more gray-beard than red-headed stranger these days, it’s tempting to take the long view on Willie Nelson, who’s approaching his 80th birthday, or to treat him as a legacy act. But his 2012 record Heroes, though a misshapen and scattershot record, shows that Nelson, one of country music’s indefatigable and irreplaceable figureheads, can still bring it. It misses as often as it hits, but the high points on Heroes — a strong, swinging rendition of “My Window Faces the South”; the galloping “Every Time He Drinks He Thinks of Her,” penned by son Lukas Nelson; and a strikingly beautiful version of Eddie Vedder’s “Just Breathe” — show that the nigh-octogenarian Nelson can still surprise when he connects with new material. And when he sings those old classics — “You Were Always on My Mind”; “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”; “Seven Spanish Angels” — he reasserts the notion that you just don’t say no to the red-headed stranger.” — P. Wall
1. “A Horse Called Music”Merle Haggard & Lukas Nelson
2. “Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die”Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson
3. “That’s All There Is To This Song”
4. “No Place To Fly”Lukas Nelson
5. “Every Time He Drinks He Thinks Of Her” Lukas Nelson
6. “Come On Up To The House”Lukas Nelson; Sheryl Crow
7. “Hero”Billy Joe Shaver, Jamey Johnson
8. “My Window Faces The South”Lukas Nelson
9. “The Sound Of Your Memory”Lukas Nelson
10. “Cold War With You”Lukas Nelson & Ray Price
11. “Just Breathe”Lukas Nelson
12. “My Home In San Antone”Lukas Nelson
13. “Come On Back Jesus”Lukas Nelson & Micah Nelson
14. “The Scientist”