Ken Tucker

In the past, Nelson has recorded other album-long salutes to some of his favorite songwriters and singers, such as Ray Price and Roger Miller and Lefty Frizzell. This one feels a little different. The best moments here are when he takes hold of some of Rodney Crowell's more recent songs, not the hits. These are reflective, contemplative compositions.

In the past, Nelson has recorded other album-long salutes to some of his favorite songwriters and singers, such as Ray Price and Roger Miller and Lefty Frizzell. This one feels a little different. The best moments here are when he takes hold of some of Rodney Crowell's more recent songs, not the hits. These are reflective, contemplative compositions.

Like Ken Pomeroy's work, it's about appreciating people and rekindling connections.

Like Ken Pomeroy's work, it's about appreciating people and rekindling connections.

Like Ken Pomeroy's work, it's about appreciating people and rekindling connections.

without you. There's a 70-year age difference between Ken Pomeroy and Willie Nelson, but I hear a similarity in their goals. To resist despair, to get us to look up from our phones and look into someone's eyes. They're both making beautiful music for tumultuous times.

without you. There's a 70-year age difference between Ken Pomeroy and Willie Nelson, but I hear a similarity in their goals. To resist despair, to get us to look up from our phones and look into someone's eyes. They're both making beautiful music for tumultuous times.

without you. There's a 70-year age difference between Ken Pomeroy and Willie Nelson, but I hear a similarity in their goals. To resist despair, to get us to look up from our phones and look into someone's eyes. They're both making beautiful music for tumultuous times.

In 1978, that was most people's introduction to David Thomas' voice, the central sound of Per Ubu, on the opening song of their debut album, The Modern Dance. Everything Thomas would do for the next 47 years was already in place. The high-pitched growl and prickly phrasing, his stop-start way of blurting out the lyrics, the surrealist approach to imagery.

In 1978, that was most people's introduction to David Thomas' voice, the central sound of Per Ubu, on the opening song of their debut album, The Modern Dance. Everything Thomas would do for the next 47 years was already in place. The high-pitched growl and prickly phrasing, his stop-start way of blurting out the lyrics, the surrealist approach to imagery.

In 1978, that was most people's introduction to David Thomas' voice, the central sound of Per Ubu, on the opening song of their debut album, The Modern Dance. Everything Thomas would do for the next 47 years was already in place. The high-pitched growl and prickly phrasing, his stop-start way of blurting out the lyrics, the surrealist approach to imagery.

The band's personnel would change regularly over the decades. The one pair ubu constant was David Thomas. His singing, his songwriting, and his immense physical presence on stage. Not for Nothing was one of his pre-ubu stage names, Crocus Behemoth.

The band's personnel would change regularly over the decades. The one pair ubu constant was David Thomas. His singing, his songwriting, and his immense physical presence on stage. Not for Nothing was one of his pre-ubu stage names, Crocus Behemoth.

The band's personnel would change regularly over the decades. The one pair ubu constant was David Thomas. His singing, his songwriting, and his immense physical presence on stage. Not for Nothing was one of his pre-ubu stage names, Crocus Behemoth.

Thomas's death at age 71 brings to a close one of the most significant avant-garde experiments ever conducted within the confines of pop music. Emerging from Cleveland, the band was as inspired by the clanking sounds of the city's industrial factories as it was by the blues that David Thomas loved. As he said more than once, we don't promote chaos, we preserve it.

Thomas's death at age 71 brings to a close one of the most significant avant-garde experiments ever conducted within the confines of pop music. Emerging from Cleveland, the band was as inspired by the clanking sounds of the city's industrial factories as it was by the blues that David Thomas loved. As he said more than once, we don't promote chaos, we preserve it.

Thomas's death at age 71 brings to a close one of the most significant avant-garde experiments ever conducted within the confines of pop music. Emerging from Cleveland, the band was as inspired by the clanking sounds of the city's industrial factories as it was by the blues that David Thomas loved. As he said more than once, we don't promote chaos, we preserve it.

Over the years, certain themes recurred in Thomas' songwriting. He wrote lyrics that revealed a deep knowledge of 20th century hard-boiled fiction.

Over the years, certain themes recurred in Thomas' songwriting. He wrote lyrics that revealed a deep knowledge of 20th century hard-boiled fiction.

Over the years, certain themes recurred in Thomas' songwriting. He wrote lyrics that revealed a deep knowledge of 20th century hard-boiled fiction.