Arriving just in time for Willie Nelson‘s 85th birthday (April 29), the legendary musician will release his latest studio effort this Friday, April 27. Last Man Standing is comprised entirely of songs newly-penned by Willie Nelson (and longtime collaborator and producer Buddy Cannon), and is the follow-up to God’s Problem Child, which also features collaborations with Buddy Cannon, who has worked with Willie since 2008.
According to a press release, “The songwriting duo deploys a unique strategy of shared composition, beginning with back-and-forth text messaging of lyrics with the melodies. On Last Man Standing, Nelson and Cannon’s unorthodox approach generated eleven original songs.”
“Willie’s a jazz singer and jazz player. He’s an improvisational musician. It’s different every time. Get a good take and go with it,” explains Cannon in the release.
The 11-track album is described in the release as “one of Willie’s most personal and introspective albums to-date,” revealing “the emotional range of Willie’s concerns, from the deeply reflective (“Something You Get Through,” to the rollicking and playful (“Me and You,” “Ready to Roar”).”
You can stream the album ahead of its official release via NPR Music right here.