Lukas Nelson released his first solo album, “American Romance,” on June 20, 2025, after announcing an indefinite hiatus from his band, Promise of the Real, to pursue different musical artistic routes. The band originally formed in 2008 with the help and inspiration from rock artist Neil Young. Classified as country rock, the band employed a unique blend of country mixed with rock influences. Eight studio albums with Nelson on lead vocals were released throughout the band’s career.
Lukas Nelson is the son of country music legend Willie Nelson, who is 92 and still writing music. I saw Willie Nelson live in 2024, and his son in 2025. I am a huge fan of both artists, and they both delivered.
Lukas Nelson is now following in his father’s footsteps as a solo artist, and his first album did not disappoint. “American Romance” is a journey through self-reflection and returning to the roots of where he began. The album is country with some elements of the Americana genre and is more acoustic than his work with Promise of the Real. The first track and single of the album is “Ain’t Done,” which is soothing and has an electric guitar solo. The second single, “Pretty Much,” is a love song with a powerful chorus.
My favorite track is “Make You Happy,” which has an earworm of a guitar rhythm and a chorus that gave me goosebumps the first few times I listened to it. This song in particular has been my number one song that I replay from the album. The next track, “Outsmarted,” is a throwback to Lukas Nelson’s roots with a catchy but deep chorus that sings: “When I was younger, I had clever lines that now reside beside my eyes, I hid my heart high on a shelf, I managed to outsmart myself.” Following the end of the chorus is a subtle pedal steel guitar.
“Disappearing Light” is another deep cut on the album, which deals with death alongside a powerful chorus and a duet with Stephen Wilson, Jr. “Born Runnin’ Outta Time” is another one of my favorites and is also frequently replayed. This song is faster-paced with a Tom Petty-esque sound like “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” “All God Did” is the next track on the album and is more of a spiritual one that deals with changing from your past self.
“Montana” is a soothing track that deals with the love of the countryside and never wanting the sun to set in Montana. This would make for a great driving song out in the country. “Friend in the End” is a duet with Sierra Ferrell and is a soothing love song with a beautiful, catchy rhythm.
“The Lie” has a slower and similar tempo to the leading track on the album. This one is accompanied with a piano alongside a few electric guitar notes. The next track, “American Romance,” is a journey through the past alongside a soothing rhythm. The album closes with “You Were It,” which is the first song that Lukas Nelson wrote when he was 11 years old. In fact, his dad loved it so much that he recorded his own version and put it on his 2004 album, “It Always Will Be.” On the 2025 version, the song is simply vocals and a guitar, which adds a more powerful tone to it. It is fitting to close out the first solo album with the first song you wrote.
I rate this album a 9/10. There are several songs that stand out and that I replay often, and there are some that just come on when my playlist is in shuffle mode. From a rock-sounding era with Promise of the Real to a more country “American Romance,” I am impressed by Lukas Nelson’s vocal range and how he follows in his dad’s footsteps.
