The name—and who his dad is—is inescapable, but it makes no difference here.
It goes like this: in the autumn of 2024, Lukas Nelson announced that his magnificent band, Promise of the Real, were going on hiatus.
Fast forward to summer 2025 and his first solo album is here. The fact it’s produced by the genius that is Shooter Jennings almost guarantees it’ll be both interesting and brilliant.
“Well, if I ever reach the top,” sings Nelson in the first line of “American Romance.” The song it comes from—”Ain’t Done”—is steeped in stoicism to its core.
“Pretty Much” is supremely well done, from its hypnotic acoustic riff to the way it builds to its chorus and flamenco-flavoured solo.
Although it’s a 2025 release, there’s a throwback feel throughout. A carefree Laurel Canyon vibe flows through “Make You Happy,” and when Nelson dials up the country, as he does so well on the gorgeous “Outsmarted,” there’s a timeless quality to it.
The brilliant Stephen Wilson Jr. delivers an astonishing cameo on the highlight that is “Disappearing Light”—and if it wasn’t written at 3am in some back-road motel, then at least let me keep believing it was.
There’s a more upbeat, almost Drive-By Truckers vibe to “Born Running Out of Time,” but the lyrics don’t match the pace. They take you to darker places—and that’s part of what makes this record so good.
There are so many layers here. The poetic imagery of “All God Did” is sensational—the closing guitar solo likewise.
The sadness and regret in “Montana” are palpable, and a sense of something ominous lurks just behind “Friend in the End,” never quite going away. Sierra Ferrell guests with some beautifully judged harmonies.
“The Lie” has a relentless quality, as it explores the sacrifices of making music. And if it’s true that “you’re defined by what you do,” as the chorus claims, then “American Romance” defines Nelson as magnificent.
This album is already writing its own chapter in the songbook before the title track even arrives—and when he reasons that he’s “flying over hell,” you sense he’s trying to avoid the abyss.
There’s a confessional, half-spoken quality to the closer “You Were It”—and somehow, that final line, “I once had a heart, now I have a song,” encapsulates the entire thing.
There’s no doubt Lukas Nelson has poured himself into this record. It feels emotionally draining—in the best way.
Not every love affair is a dream. Some romances just don’t work, no matter how much you want them to. That’s where “American Romance” lives: harsh reality delivered with a delicate touch.
Rating: 8.5/10
