Willie Nelson – ‘Dream Chaser’ album review: Old Willie is still working well
156 albums. You read that right, 156. At what point does Willie Nelson’s charm run its course and his voice break? Album 157, maybe, because it’s certainly not this one.
THE SKINNY: Don’t get me wrong, you’re not going to leave Dream Chaser having your life changed. Nelson is doing what he’s been doing all along, which means writing beautiful songs, playing his guitar, and singing in a stripped-back yet spiritual tone. It’s bread and butter for the country legend at this point, but so long as these songs keep coming, you can bet your bottom dollar that we’ll still be listening.
When Joni Mitchell worked with Nelson on the song ‘Cool Water’, she said she was a big fan of his voice because of the subtle multitudes contained within it. He can go from sweet to gritty in the blink of an eye, with vocals from the kind of voice you’d read love letters in, but that are also gravelly and packed with attitude.
“[He was] perfect for that song,” she said, “That was a swing country era. Willie is of that era, and he’s got that same kind of beautiful voice. He also sounds like an old desert rat, which is theatrically appropriate for that song.”
Perhaps one of the best instances of that on his newest record comes in form of songs four and five. Four is ‘I Can’t Read Your Mind’, a track that Nelson wrote with none other than Bob Dylan. The two of them join forces to create a love song with a sting in the tale, as Nelson sings about not being able to tell what his partner is thinking, and it getting in the way of his decision-making. Lyrics like “I don’t know how to read your mind, the letters are too small,” are a humorous highlight.
Now, contrast that sweet and innocent ode with what comes next, ‘Whiskey Wants Me To’. Here, we have a totally different side to the country singer, as his words talk of wanting to drink alone over a much more upbeat instrumental. In just two songs, you hear the great range of Willie Nelson, and that resonates across the entire album.
‘After All’ is the kind of track you spend late nights dancing to, meanwhile, the title track ‘Dream Chaser’ accompanies road trips and elongated looks of longing into the distance. After decades of making music, Nelson could spend the rest of his days drinking whiskey, smoking weed and counting money, but no. It’s nice of him to put out an album like this and show us that this Willie might be old, but it’s still working.
Standout track: ‘I Can’t Read Your Mind’
The Verdict: 156 albums in and Willie Nelson is still delivering the goods. This album sees the multi-faceted country star flex his musical muscles, as songs range from drinking to thinking, grieving to mind-reading, and Nelson glides over every instrumental and emotional theme effortlessly.
Release Date: May 29th, 2026 | Producer: Buddy Cannon | Label: Legacy Recordings
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.