Lucinda Williams
took eight years to write and record her second album of original songs. While some producers and record executives have said that she is difficult to work with, one can never argue with the finished product. She crafts each song meticulously and deftly blends
country
,
blues
, and
folk
to create a unique sound that cannot be pigeonholed into any particular format. Her voice contains a heartache comparable to
Emmylou Harris
, but she has a darker side and a toughness that allows her to live inside the
or rock with abandon. Re-released with bonus tracks after receiving long overdue commercial acclaim for
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
is an album that has been long been recognized as a classic. It has been mined for hit songs over the years by such artists as
Mary Chapin Carpenter
, who turned
"Passionate Kisses"
into a
hit, and
Tom Petty
, who included
"Changed the Locks"
on his
soundtrack
album
She's the One
. In addition to writing strong melodies,
Williams
is an amazing songwriter with a knack for writing a lyric that acknowledges the complicated nature of relationships while cutting right to the heart of the matter. Every song packs an emotional punch line and rewards the listener each time with something new. A must-own for
and
fans who appreciate great songwriting. ~ Vik Iyengar