At 74, Merle Haggard is more than a legend; he stands as a living reminder of what country music can be when it shows authenticity and courage. Working in Tennessee finds this enduring artist contemplating his life and the world around him with a wry, sometimes ornery gleam in his eye. Featuring a batch of fresh tunes written or cowritten by Haggard (along with some old favorites), the album has an easygoing air, emphasizing acoustic picking over electric licks. Singing in tones as mellow as aged whiskey, Merle dishes out jaunty Texas swing (the title tune), offers a poignant lost-love ballad (“Sometimes I Dream”), and gets philosophical about life’s rough patches (“Laugh It Off”). “What I Hate” and “Under the Bridge” reflect his populist streak, while “Too Much Boogie Woogie” lets him vent about Nashville's current state. Merle’s son Ben and Willie Nelson stop by for a timely new version of “Working Man’s Blues," while wife Theresa duets on a sassy take of “Jackson” (recorded in tribute to old friend Johnny Cash).