Kris Kristofferson’s New Studio Album ‘This Old Road’

The new studio album This Old Road, Kris Kristofferson’s first studio album in ten years solidifies him as one of the best contemporary songwriters living or dead. Kristofferson muses on getting older, political chaos and unease, and freedom’s tangle web of complexities. He is the songwriter of venerable country classics; (Sammi Smith took Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night” to the country Top 10) and the Johnny Cash hit”Sunday Morning Coming Down”, and has always crafted his music with stoic, impassive grace. His style throughout his forty year career has ranged from hard-edged politically charged songs to his gravelly-toned ballads that can and do inspire the listener to scenes of late, cheap whiskey-driven sleepless nights.

That is evident here on this new album, captured by long-time producer Don Was in a sparse, very bare-bones; “just Kris, his guitar” style with some accompanying piano, bass by Was, Stephen Bruton playing guitar and mandolin and drummer Jim Keltner, that harken back to his last studio-inspired collection “The Austin Sessions” recordings of the late ’90’s.
Was’s unmistakably indelible firm but light hand is evident without any haze, and he has produced a collection of sparse, rough-hewn folk and outlaw-country songs. “Chase the Feeling” a rugged outlaw tune is this fan’s favorite.

The songs presented on this new album are Kristofferson’s and only his because of his talent for writing simple and natural songs that are rich in their depth and truth. The best songs on what may be called by some his comeback album, simply feature the veteran singer-songwriter and his acoustic guitar delivering powerful socially conscious songs like “Wild American, “The Burden of Freedom” and “Pilgrim’s Progress”. He and the other players deliver all the music with understated humble grace.

Kristofferson will never be called a great singer, but his songs will always be of resonating depth and truthfulness. And the album is an example of quiet, quality musicians comfortable with bringing snap-shots of life to a new generation of listener’s.
This is an album of universal songs that for the appreciative listener if you allow it, becomes a full steam frieght-train. The songs presented on this new album are Kristofferson’s and only his because of his talent for writing simple and natural songs that are rich in their depth and truth. Kristofferson will never be called a great singer, but his songs will always be of resonating depth and truthfulness. And the album is an example of quiet, quality musicians comfortable with bringing snap-shots of life to a new generation of listener’s.
This is an album of universal songs that for the appreciative listener if you allow it, becomes a full steam freight train.