Willie Nelson
and
Merle Haggard
first teamed up on record for
Pancho & Lefty
in 1983, a record released some 20 years after both singers began their careers. Back then, they were both hovering around 50, already considered old guys, but
Django and Jimmie
arrives 32 years after that record, when there's no question that the pair are old-timers. Appropriately enough, mortality is on their minds throughout
, a record whose very title is taken from
Willie
Merle
's childhood idols. It's a song that seems like a confession, as does the casual admission that they didn't think they'd "Live This Long," but neither
Nelson
nor
Haggard
wrote this, nor the title track or the album's first single, the near-novelty "It's All Going to Pot." These are made-to-order originals by some of the best in the business --
Buddy Cannon
,
Jamey Johnson
, and Larry Shell wrote "It's All Going to Pot,"
Jimmy Melton
Jeff Prince
the title track -- and it shows how producer
Cannon
has a sharp ear for material, along with a way with a relaxed groove. That comfortable, familial atmosphere is one of the best things about
and extends far beyond the marquee names; the studio pros, friends, family, and fellow travelers who support
help give this a warm, worn-in feel that's appealing on its own terms. As comforting as the vibe is, it's the singers and their songs that linger. Neither
make any attempt to hide their age --
is a bit thinner than he used to be,
a bit growlier -- and their age is affecting when they revisit songs from the past, whether they wrote them or not (
Hag
's "Swinging Doors" is revived, as is the country standard "Family Bible" and
Bob Dylan
's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"). This nod to the passage of time isn't as explicit as "Live This Long" or "Missing Ol' Johnny Cash," where they bring in fellow survivor
Bobby Bare
to reminisce about their old pal. Often, country memories can get maudlin, but
are filled with good humor here and the pair often strike a delicate balance of fun and sweet melancholy which gives
a soulful lift. Both singers are aware they're approaching the twilight, but they're not cursing the dark, they're enjoying the sunset. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine