Customer Reviews

This Old Road

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3 star:		(1)
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Don't let Kris Kristofferson fool you. He has been paying attention. This album is a love letter to his family and friends. It's also full of angry, cautionary observations about the world we live in. The stripped down production is a perfect accompaniement to Kristofferson's well worn vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica. When you have a resume that sports as many country classics as this gentleman, it's kind of hard to believe that there was anything worthy of adding to it. No one would have blamed him for resting quietly on his laurels. "This Old Road" quietly adds another chapter to the Pilgram's progress. What an extraordinary journey it's been.

Guy Clark, a friend, told Kris one night to "Go Break a Heart", as he was going on stage, instead of the old sawbone "Go Break a Leg." It seems somehow the right thing to say. These are the lyrics from Kris's song "Final Attraction" the last song on the CD. All of Kris's friends and those he loved. The Old Troubador comes through on this CD.

"Come on boy, get back up there
You can do it one more time
For Hank Williams, go break a heart
And Janis Joplin, go break a heart
And Waylon Jennings, go break a heart
And John Lennon, go break a heart
And Roger Miller, "
And Jimi Hendrix, "
And Mickey Newbury, "
(add on....)John and June Cash
Vince Matthews, Shell Silverstein,
And maybe one time for me,
Go break a heart"

This is the barebones of Kris Kristofferson; superb, poetic lyrics and his distinctive voice, like old fine whiskey. He is approaching 70, and he plays on this CD with his guitar and a few old friends. It is bleak and oh, so sweet. The lyrics in these songs break your heart, as Kris wishes. They are real, and we know exactly what Kris is saying. This is the man who won our hearts and souls with his gravelly, whiskey voice, putting his honesty on the line for us.

Kris was a Rhodes Scholar who turned down a position at West Point to work as a janitor in Nashville. Soon he was known for his song writing and voice, writing with Shel Silverstein, "Me and Bobby McGee", "Sunday Morning Coming Down," and "For the Good Times." Kris Kristofferson is known as a living legend at this point in his career. But, he tells us he is the same man he has always been. He talks of freedom in many of his songs. "If you took freedom out of the songs, you'd have very few Kristofferson songs," he laughs.

"If I had to describe it in one word, I'd say it's honest," he says of "This Old Road". "It's all pretty close to the bone, about my own personal journey. It's about what sense I've made of my life up to now."

"Pilgrim's Progress" is a song that Kristofferson says, "tells the truth, a progress report."

The CD pays tribute to those who have gone on "The Last Thing to Go," wherein he salutes "those of us who took things seriously, who were trying to move people;

"The Show Goes On," a song he calls "a fond look back at the way we were putting ourselves out there and trying to create something special.

" On "Wild American" he reminds listeners of some personal heroes; people like Native American activist John Trudell and others who "happen when you need `em" like Merle Haggard and Steve Earle.

"Final Attraction," a song that was inspired by watching the communication between Willie Nelson and a large crowd of listeners. Go Break A Heart"

"In the News" takes a hard look at modern-day life with the mention of Lacy Peterson refrain of "Read about the sorry way he done somebody's daughter. Chained her to a heavy thing and threw her in the water. And she sank into the darkness with their baby son inside her. A little piece of truth and beauty died."


"The Burden of Freedom" focuses on "the fact that freedom is a double-edged sword," Kristofferson says. "When I wrote it back in the late 60s, it was about leaving the path I had been prepared for--West Point and all that--but it's mostly about doing what you believe is right whether that makes you enemies or not."

"Chase the Feeling," which describes destructive behavior-"it takes one to know one, baby"

"Holy Creation" is his beautiful composition. He says the song was inspired by his eight children, whom he calls his "greatest legacy."

"Thank You for a Life." "The best love songs can be taken on a couple different levels, so that song is being sung to my wife but also to God," he says. "In the end, it's all love."


This CD is about love, freedom, and the people, like BK and me, who love Kris Kristofferson and his music. A critic has said of this CD, "And on this, the most intensely personal album of his career, he goes the extra mile, creating a thing of rare beauty, grace, and eloquence." Kris never thought he was a good singer. He was a good songwriter, he does agree. He didn't like singing his songs, but others did, like Janis Joplin. It wasn't until after Joplin died from a drug overdose in October 1970 that Kristofferson first heard her recording of his song.
"She had hooked it. It was a very emotional experience for me" he said. That's how we feel now Kris. You hooked it. This is an emotional experience for those of us who love your music. Highly, highly recommended, prisrob 5-19-06

Let's examine that word: "masterpiece." What is a masterpiece? It's a work of art that lasts longer that its artist; it is a work so profound that it touches you on every emotional level. A masterpiece is something you may never fully understand, may never truly comprehend, but show it unequivocal respect and admiration.

That's what Kristofferson's latest record is: a masterpiece. I won't sink to the level of going song-by-song; how could I even attempt such a journey? This mostly-acoustic album is a journey through the mind of an artist. Kristofferson has proved himself, over DECADES, to be the premier songwriter in the music industry. For his latest release, he turns to his own life's story, his own place in this vast "universal mind." With a voice hewn by years of hard living and loving, and stellar production by Don Was, Kristofferson will take you on a soulful journey from which you may never return. Not that you would want to.

THIS OLD ROAD is a masterpiece...and if you have a single doubt in your mind as to that truth, then buy the album and give it a listen. And if it doesn't touch you, check your pulse and make sure you still have a beating heart capable of breaking. Because this one will break your heart, then put it back together again. A beautiful, timeless record. A masterpiece.

"The angels were singing a sad country song/it sounded like something of yours..." I can't help but think that maybe Kris is making a touching reference here to the late Johnny Cash.

There's something about that weathered voice, makes you feel like he's there, that he's lived it and that he's sitting down to tell you about it. I think that's what initially made me such a big fan of Kris Kristofferson. It's definitely what makes this, his latest album, easily a quick favorite.

His music this time around, as always, is simple in its delivery and yet, if you take a close look at the words, the language...it's blistered and it's poetry. Kris remains country music's own Bob Dylan. Who else could write something so evocative as that line in Me & Bobby McGee that still grabs me: "...feelin' nearly faded as my jeans"?

Do yourself a favor and listen especially to tracks #1,3, & 11.

Kris Kristofferson is one of the rarest of artists that can express heavy emotions in such a way that they are laid out for you to accept or reject on your own terms. He preaches without preaching.

"In the News", is a anti-war song, presented on a personal level, which seems to invoke the emotional Lacey Peterson murder . Listen and you know, that he is not merely using this sad story to make a point, you can feel the pain in in his voice.

"Wild American", embraces those that have, put their necks out there to express their views, no matter how unpopular. Kistofferson, affirms that they, and not just the "patriotic" flag wavers, are the true Americans.

"Chase the Feeling", to me is the most direct song on this album. Still, it is not admonishing anybody that finds themselves in the throws of addiction. It drills down, in simple, yet most affective lyrics for one to look at the roots of their past and present choices . Again, he does this without preaching, but he voices how the seemingly small choices you make each day affect the big picture of your life.

In "The Show Goes On", as much of this album, seems to be, a look back to the idealistic past, to a look at the present and to the future. As in , "Thank You for a Life", he humbly expresses his gratitude to god for "a life I'd call happy," and "...thanks for the sadness that you saved me from the madness...all I'm crying now are tears of joy."

While, "This Old Road", as a whole, may almost seem to be a farewell from an old friend, to me it feels like a gift of wisdom from somebody that is just further down the trail than myself.

Kris Kristofferson is a human that I can hold as a piece of rugged hope that keeps me burning with conviction, humanity and humility.

The long wait for the loyal fans of Kris Kristofferson is over! An album finally to go in the player next to The Austin Sessions. Those of you who think Kris never had a voice are wrong. You should play again his recording of "For the Good Times" early on. He had a clear, even sweet baritone with just enough rasp in it to make it unique. He wasted that gift and I am sure he knows it. Other singers his age who took care of their instrument still have it. His was wasted on excess, too much of everything, cigarettes, booze and all nighters. That said I LOVE this CD, it is life stripped bare, Kris has always been more songwriter than singer. Every lyric is a treasure. Kris has been "my man" for almost 40 years. My children teased me about him, now my grandchildren do. He has become a fine actor but this, this album, these songs, in that ruined voice, rasping out not only his life but songs of the human condition. Kris, thank you for a day that I call happy, thank you for the years of watching, listening and waiting. Thank you for "This Old Road", ain't we come a long way........

This cd is amazing. I am not much for words so all i am gonna say is I have had alot of time to listen to this cd. And this cd touches the soul. I really enjoyed this cd while i was in afghanistan it always got me in a great mood. Thats about it haha. Cheers United States Paratrooper

It's really good to see Kris has slowed down enough to write again. Usually when they start releasing greatest hits albums and tribute albums ("The Pilgrim"), the singer is over the hill, but he has proven it wrong this time (so has Merle Haggard and, of course, Dylan). Hope he keeps writing and singing forever. By the way, one of his best songs ever, in my opinion, was on the first "Highwaymen" album. It's called "Here Comes That Rainbow Again", inspired from a scene in "The Grapes of Wrath". Check it out.

This CD just arrived today, about 5 hours ago. I have listened to it about 5 times now. It's also gotten me wanting some of his other music, so I got out my Essential Kris Kristofferson discs. It is so good to have fantastic songs to listen to again. I am a little older, but even my beautiful 25 year old daughter loves this CD.

I have every album he has released but this is by far my favorite. It breaks my heart and makes me joyful at the same time. Holy Creation put into words what I feel being a mother. He is the most powerful song writer ever.