Legacy

Only Willie Nelson could sing “Roll me up and smoke me when I die” and have the idea seem, well, actually plausible. The country music legend and admitted pot smoker would probably give off a pretty good buzz. Heroes offers a good buzz too, featuring a handful of guests including Ray Price, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg (on “Roll Me Up…” of course), Sheryl Crow and sons Micah and Lukas Nelson. With this mix of new songs and classic renditions, Nelson weaves a warm and relaxed path through country’s forms, touching on swing, Tex-Mex, classic heartbreak, twangy soul and honkytonk. At 79, his voice sounds stronger than it has in years, especially on the reaching “The Sound of Your Memory.” His guests accentuate his grace and stature, but never cover for him. With music this good, hopefully we won’t be smoking Nelson anytime soon.