Emily: I have definitely been pleasantly surprised by most of the country we’ve listened to so far, and Willie Nelson’s Stardust thankfully continues that trend. Well, Stardust isn’t exactly a country album, so maybe it doesn’t count. You see, this album goes against all the twangy, repetitive, all-American country tropes that distinguish the genre and turn me away from it. What Willie gives us in their place are a collection of understated, melodic pop standards with just a hint of country on the side. This album is definitely more influenced by folk, jazz, and pop than traditional country (or, as the genre was becoming at the time, “outlaw country”). The arrangements are simple, allowing the classic songwriting and musicianship to shine through. The result is a winning tribute to the Great American Songbook, a feat that many have attempted but few have accomplished. Who knew that winner could be a counterculture country star?
Favorite Tracks: Georgia on My Mind; Moonlight in Vermont; On the Sunny Side of the Street
Zack: Those of you who have been following us for a while may have noticed that we tend to avoid country albums. There are two reasons for that. One is that neither of us are recreational country users and so we try to limit our consumption. The other is that the albums for that particular genre are really hard to get. In total, I have about five (depending on where you draw the distinction between country and folk). This is the fourth album that I categorize in that genre (the fifth is another Johnny Cash one, but since we’re trying to space out when we repeat artists that won’t get its turn for a while). Thankfully, the creation of Spotify and its constant expansion has opened the door for more, so we’ll probably start playing catch-up in the upcoming months. Which, I should add, will also incorporate winter break! If you look back, you can see a big spike in our productivity from mid-December to mid-January. That’s why. So once we clear finals week (which is going to be hell on this blog and us in general, mind you), expect us to update with much more consistency. Now what was I doing? Oh yeah! Reviewing an album. Although I am not, in my own words a “recreational country user,” I have to admit that we’re 3-4 on country albums. Those may not be Dirk numbers, but they are a hell of a lot better than my man Iggy’s. I have to respect that. Although I will point out that this is far from a traditional country album. Stardust is made up of ten covers of old pop hits. Most are from the ‘20s or ‘30s, and only one was younger than 30 years old when Willie put his touch on them. He doesn’t perform them in a directly country way either. There’s still a lot of pop left, along with some jazz. What Willie Nelson really manages to do is reinvigorate the songs. He makes them relevant to generation who may not have grown up on them. He took timeless hits and added a new coat of varnish, basically. In doing so, his greatest asset is his ability to narrate. Each song is treated more like its own story than as just an arrangement of notes. It’s this storytelling that allows Willie Nelson to construct an album that bridges not only eras and genres, but also fanbases. Stardust is the kind of album that anyone, whether they be the twangiest country redneck or the biggest Belieber, will instantly be infatuated with.
Favorite Tracks: Georgia on My Mind; September Song; Blue Skies
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