It's been a good long while since an old folkie like Kris Kristofferson has come along. Kristofferson embodies the folksinger's tradition. He sings simple songs that speak eloquently of experiences—spending a night in a small-town jailhouse, hitching a ride to New Orleans, paying a call on an old-time used-to-be. He is always totally believable; you know Kris has paid some dues….

Kristofferson is a superb album. Kris shows plenty of versatility—from a rousing gospel chant, "Blame It on the Stones" …, to tender mellow things like "Casey's Last Ride" and "For the Good Times," to rockin' country stuff like "Best of All Possible Worlds." His lyrics are always right; he can be bitter, cynical when he has to be, then turn around and be poetically pretty without being saccharine….

As a songwriter, [Kristofferson] is both versatile and original. He is going to go a long way, and...