Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

A pretty good album, I liked Right In Time, Can't Let Go and Metal Firecracker.

I lined it more than I thought I would.

Love me some Lucinda Williams, this album is probably her best. I’m freaking the fuck out right now so nothing else to say.

As those of you reading this may be unsurprised to hear: I really liked this. It’s not my first listen, it won’t be my last.

Right in Time was such an awesome song and set my bar so high. The rest of the album was pretty good, but nowhere near that level. Still enjoyed and will listen again in the future.

10/29/24. Very sweet sounding and nice album! A mix of country, roots, and folk, and Lucinda has a pleasant voice. Haven't heard this one before today, but will definitely revisit.

Good folkish rock type stuff. Sometimes her voice gets a bit too … I don’t know, a bit too something, but for the most part a very solid album. Can’t Let Go has been on a heavy enough rotation on my Spotify for long enough I have to skip it half the time so I don’t get tired of it.

Love the lyrics, love the feel of being down south. The music has a little bit of swamp to it. This is so close to a five star album! Goes on for a little bit too long, the last few songs don’t quite hold up to the first 2/3, and the vocals become a bit repetitive/droning. But I could listen to the first half of this album over and over again-and probably will!

i thought it was pretty good lady folksy rock

Nothing revolutionary but a relaxing fun album to listen to. I would definitely listen to it again and her some more.

Didn’t mind this at all. Added some of these to my driving playlist

What a pleasant album.

Solid 4. Would listen again

I really liked her voice! The songs were relaxing, but they did all feel kind of same-ish.

listened to this album for the first time in the last year, and i still enjoy it more than expected. 3.5

Very much like the use of the African music.

soothing and beautiful country that really is easy to work to - i might have to do this more often.

I wasn't sure at first, but after a very short time I really liked this. Played it all through at least 4 times, back-to-back. Several standout tracks and her voice sounds a lot like Sheryl Crow. Good stuff.

Rock rock! Pidin paljon. Sopivasti etelää. Hyviä biisejä, tehty yksi ajatus kerrallaan (olen alkanut kaivata sitä erityisesti uudemmassa musiikissa, joten tämä rauhoitti tänään). Niin vahva kolme puoli, että uskallan antaa nelosen.

Mitä enemmän kuuntelen tätä, sitä vakuuttuneempi olen, että tämä ei ole pelkkä kolmonen - mikä on epäreilua muita levyjä kohtaan, sillä 2 Kool 2 Be 4-gotten on ollut suosikki siitä lähtien, kun kuulin sen Rhonda Pearlmanin CD-soittimessa. Artistin vireen rajoilla seikkaileva ääni ei lakkaa koskettamasta minua, eivätkä hänen biisinsä lopeta hidasta avautumistaan. Erityistä, väitän.

Once in a while, I have an artist that. Stands outside of my Typical genre norms. I remember this album when I was just out of college. I like that American folk sound mixed with the Cajun Zydeco feel. Listen to Williams gives me similar vibe as listening to some Mary Chapin Carpenter. They both make me a little introspective and, shoot, almost make me wanna dance.

Pre-9/11 country music, my beloved.

Played this a ton when it first came out. Still holds up IMHO.

When this album first came out, I didn’t love it but it has grown on me, as has Lucinda Williams.

In track one of this album, I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy it or if it might tip a little too far into country twanginess. Turns out the answer was both. It leans into country more than a lot of music that I dislike, yet I still really enjoyed it which is quite the rarity. I’m not sure what sets this apart from other music, but the instrumentation just sounded nice to my ears. The vocals were fine, but it was how it all came together which made something quite lovely. I’m happy to say that this album surprised me.

Great album from a relatively obscure artist, I really enjoyed this

4.1 - I thought I was going to like this more but it’s still really great. It’s a very wholesome album and has some really lovely descriptive lyrics. I think sometimes I wanted a bit more and felt it was a bit repetitive in parts

Road trip songs! Yeah! My type of music. Don't have much to say. I'll leave 4 stars.

3.5? Interesting type of country

I dug this. I liked her voice better as it went along. Favorite songs: Concrete and barbed wire “Joy” is super cool Lake charles Still I long for your kiss Drunken Angel

Cool songs I liked this one

My biggest problem with “modern” country is that a lot of it sounds like middle of the road rock songs but with steel guitar and a country twangy voice. Lucinda roots her songs a bit more in older country, at least it seems that way on this album. I think I had a Lucinda Williams album at one time on cassette, perhaps it's time to change that and buy one of her albums. The songs themselves were well-crafted, and there were a number of them that I enjoyed. I could do without songs about angels, but that's not her fault. I mean, it's country and that's usually something that comes up. It's not like she's writing "the South will rise again" or anything. Definitely something I imagine listening to again. perhaps on a nice walk outside. Top songs: "Right In Time," "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road," "Can't Let Go," "Metal Firecracker"

So, #98 on Rolling Stone's 500 best albums...of all time. All time? All genres? Seems a little gracious. But I did enjoy it from the opening plucks of Right in Time. It kind of reminded me of all of the genres of folk, country, alt country, adult contemporary, etc. that were smashing together in the 90's. Like Ryan Adams and Liz Phair (or most of her Lilith Fair compatriots) and Sheryl Crow and Wilco coming together. But still something all her own and not as annoying or eye rolling as Shawn Colvin or Meredith Brooks. The title track, Drunken Angel, Can't Let Go, I Lost It, Greenville, and Jackson were some other faves. I decided about halfway through I was going to let this album play a few times. Pleasantly surprised...and not disappointed on multiple listens.

Lucinda Williams was one of those artists I had never heard of until I moved from the UK to the US, being introduced to this was a revelation. To me Country music was either old people from the 70s or earlier like Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson and Tammy Wynette or Loretta Lynn, or mediocre 90s pop crossovers like Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes, so to encounter the in-between space that Americana genre existed in with artists like Lucinda and Emmylou Harris was an eye opening experience. This album moved me, it's downright filthy in so many ways with songs like "Right In Time" and "I Still Long For Your Kiss" but it's the consecutive punches of "2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten", "Drunken Angel", "Concrete And Barbed Wire" and "Lake Charles" that keep me coming back. You should also listen to her 2005 Live @ the Fillmore album

I liked it

I quite like country, and this folk-like sound, with its rough-and-ready vocals and its personality does hit the spot for me.

Heat

Lucinda is such a good singer. The lyrics are beautiful. Although some country music included in the album i am not particularly a fan of. But i see why they draw comparasion with Bob Dylan.

I would like to hear you singing and playing guitar like this. The album title is nice too! I could certainly imagine us listening to this as we're going on a short road trip. The slower songs are good for starting the day in the kitchen. I'm generally not a fan of country-like music, but I liked this album, it is well put together.

very nice bluegrass ... 4 stars

Я не знаю, ну почему-то мне нравится вот это вот кантри от сильных, независимых, но при этом истерзанных жизнью женщин. Им грустно но они идут вперёд. Они любят, они страдают, они держатся.

Hahaha Lucinda Williams after that stupid The Thrills album!! Oh the ironing is delicious 🤤. Still angry about Irish guys using a fgake southern drawl. Great songwriting delivered with authenticity. The album has a lot of variety, a range of emotion, interesting and fresh subject matter. Really liked these little glimpses of people's lives, Lake Charles was a memorable example. I've never listened to Lucinda WIlliams before because I kind of afraid of country music, but this was great. Haters gonna hate, as they say. I typically oppose the Critically Acclaimed™ stuff, but this deserves the awards.

Drum sound *very* juicy

p826. 1998. 4.5 stars. Sounds like Sheryl Crow's older and arguably more talented sister :) Great voice, great lyrics and songs. Half a point deducted for the occasional lapse into yeehaw.

Album number 1089 of 1089. Three years and done. Not the best album to save for last, but it was a good listen. Standouts: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Concrete and Barbed Wire, 3.75

That was good. Catchy and fun country tunes. It gets a bit repetitive, but it’s still fun nonetheless.

I don't like country music, but I am a fan of this subset of the genre - Americana? Folk? Whatever it is - it shaves off the twangy, western vibe and uses country cadences mixed with rock to create a vibe that sits comfortably amongst artists like Bob Dylan or Tom Petty. I love Williams's voice too. It's crisp, effortless, but also melancholy and a little messy. The opening track "Right in Time" hooked me right in. It wasn't until "Concrete and Barbed Wire" that I had to relent a little and back off the otherwise unanimous priase I had for this album. "Can't Let Go" though is phenomenal. I had heard Robert Plant and Alison Krauss sing that song - had no idea it was a cover! It's a great track. I an a new convert to Lucinda Williams and will definitely seek out more of her stuff.

This album is great! I have heard a few of these songs randomly on my local radio station, but did not know where they were from.

Solid

8/10 really nice! very pleasing aesthetic

Had never heard of this artist beforehand and am glad to have heard tis record . A very solid attempt at creating a chill sort of soft rock country infusion album that receives a lot of praise for me.

Great album.

This is so chill and I love it. The title track was slow and yummy and I loved it and 2 kool 2 be 4gotten was pleasing to the ear as well. It then ended well with still I long for your kiss and joy, which were both very different and enjoyable, before leading into Jackson. This is SWAGS before it was cool.

I recognize the voice from somewhere. Would stay for the second show just to be memorized all over again

Überraschend gut. Bin kein Country Fan, aber das geht zum Teil gut rein. 3-4

It's so refreshing to hear an artist write and sing songs that would appeal to Brandon Carlisle, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Emmy Lou Harris etc. Fold comparisons to Dylan and Townes Van Zandt may be a slight stretch, but Lucinda's songwriting and singing is terrific. I live the fact that she's not sounding (or being made to sound) like Taylor Swift!! 4 / 5

Kind of a classic in late '90s Americana - Country/Rock world. Great song lyrics. Twangy country-ish guitar driven instrumentation. Unique voice. Lucinda has been doing this a long time.

This is a pretty excellent album. Im not a country fan but i liked it very much. The slide guitar was a bit annoying here and there, but otherwise solid album. Definitely worth checking it out. Reminded me of Sheryl Crow so much. Whom i also like.

Pretty interesting “Americana” album. Really nice sound, but the singers voice doesn’t hook me. Sort of a Sheryl Crow feel, but rougher. The songs raged from fine to really good. I rather enjoyed it overall, am sure it'll get played again. It fit my mood today so I'll round up to 4.

I really liked it I would definitely listen to it again but I don’t know how often I would go to it.

first listen i like it

Well, at least I know what the words to the chorus are. No idea where I heard this (didn't listen to the radio much/at all in 1998) but... been a while. ...no idea how I recognize just about every song on this. Strong Sheryl Crow vibes, pretty good sound.

Had not listened to this album in a long time - found I liked it a lot more this time. Great diversity of songs and song writing.

This album brought me Joy. Didn’t feel like I was 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten and hidden away behind Concrete and Barbed Wire. Found this Right In Time.

I don't have a lot of thoughts on this albums, but I like this album 4/5

I wouldn't list Lucinda Williams among my favorites, but there's no denying the strength of the material and her authenticity. This is an album that has grown on me over time, and while it's not necessarily one I'll go to, I'm enjoying it more and more as I listen to it over the years.

This album failed to impress me when it originally came out, but today I really got into it. You can taste the dive bar sawdust, smell the oleander on the air, and hear the neighbors chatting away on their front porch. evocative stuff.

That was pretty cool. I didn't love all of the harmonies, but most of it was good. My favourite stretch was from Can't Let Go to Metal Firecracker.

A great album from a solid performer. Hits her stride on this album. One of those performers like John Prine and Steve Earle who are great but never spend enough time listening to them

Always liked everything thing I’ve ever heard by her. She recorded this album when she was 45. Living made this a good album.

I haven't been listening terribly closely, but I've been enjoying this way more than I expected from the opening twang. This has a peaceful easiness about it that just feels really nice. Production is lush and her vocals are effortless. Lake Charles it the one that so far has commanded my attention. Just pretty song writing; also the inclusion of tasteful accordion will always peak my interest. This album feels like a familiar indie country spirit to something like Phoebe Bridgers or something. Admittedly not my most careful listen, but I really enjoyed this album. It felt like a warm and dusty hug from start to finish. Beautiful production throughout and strong storytelling in what I did listen to. I think I have a soft spot for folk country. Solid 4 / 5 imo.

Really enjoy Lucinda! This is her best album.

It's ok

Why do I like this so much? She sounds like a blend of Sheryl Crow and Courtney Love. Some of the vocals feel forced and there is a crap ton of bajos and harmonicas in this back country soundtrack. And I think I like it. I normally don't. Great story telling and pace for a cozy drive or evening in by the fire, or swattin squitos on the porch.

Fantastic. I love that alt-country was going strong in the late 90s at the same time that country music was being ruined by pop music. Lucinda has such a unique voice, which sounds half lonely half strung out but always strong and piercing. I love the fusion of southern rock, folk and country. The lyrics and good and grounding. I love this album.

beautiful album, while it's not going to blow you away, it's filled with charm and longing. the singing talent is average but it works extremely well for this genre. some songs are a little too slow but overall very enjoyable

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is Lucinda Williams' most successful album, featuring "Can't Let Go," which may be Williams' most famous song. Her music is difficult to classify; she combines rock, folk, blues, and country. The album won a Grammy as the year's best folk album, but these songs do not sound like most music in the folk genre. "Can't let Go" earned Williams a Grammy nomination for best female rock vocal performance. Rolling Stone called the album "alternate country;" others called it "Americana." Whatever genre it is, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is a rich collection of songs that showcase William's skill as a songwriter and her expressive voice. This collection of songs are of an impressive range, demonstrating the wide range of influences and genres she weaves together in her beautiful work.

After 600+ songs my scale is so broken... this is probably a 4.

Well made, and quite enjoyable. After listening a few times it grows on you. You will find yourself humming songs from the album.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Right in time, Joy

Very good

Good album. I know most people like Lucinda when she's sing about heartache, longing and melancholia and usually I do too. But I really liked the rockers on the album. I read some of the review and one stated that Joy was stupid, I completely disagree. Love the song.

Americana, and the crossroads of Blues, Country, and Rock.

Love her singing style and lyrics. Although some of the presentation has a country style to it, it works with the feel of the world the songs come from. I love the opening guitar bit on the song Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. It is a beautiful musical phrase. Like many albums on this list, it doesn't fit into a single genre but simply uses various styles like an artist uses colors when painting. I think Lucinda Williams could deliver a Lou Reed song and it would become more definitive than Lou Reed's version.

4/5

Some good old country

Beautiful songwriting and production. I feel like I'm sitting by her on a front porch overlooking a river and she tells me her life story. A new favorite.

A solid roots-country album with a lot of blues thrown in. It's well performed, in the fact that it has the right balance of tight and loose, if that makes sense. Nothing Earth-shattering to me, but solid. Favorite tracks: "Joy", "Drunken Angel", "Can't Let Go"

Beautiful from the heart.

I've liked this Lucinda Williams album since it came out. I was getting really into alt. country like Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, Old 97's, and others at the time "Car Wheels On a Gravel Road" came out, and it fit right into all of those. It also felt like a re-invention for Williams.

Chill country

El country mai va sonar més accessible i preciosista que en l'obra mestra de Lucinda Williams, un dels treballs que avancen a mitjans/finals dels 90 la febre del alt. country que s'esdevindria pocs anys després. Un must de la década

Never knew of this artist, but this album is pretty decent blend of alternative music i love and country music i never even liked. Here it blends really well

Nice folky country

A great Americana album. Lucinda Williams' vocals are certainly distinct and not for everyone, but I dig it. She seems cool AF. Someone else compared her to the singer from Eels, agree 100%. Great songwriting throughout. Can get a little boring/repetitive, but that's an Americana thing more than a LW thing. 4 - Will definitely listen again

Songwriting masterclass.

Solid country album, should put it in the car

This album grew on me. At first, I found it a bit underwhelming. Almost like, why is this even on the list? It's inoffensive, sure, but I'm just bored. By the end, I was enjoying it more. For some reason the first three tracks didn't really hit me. Still a solid album overall.

The broad category of "country" (I know: categories, groupings, labels...I'm not a fan of these; I'm talking more about the features of the music we tend to label as "country" -- not great, but I digress) is not usually my go-to for listening enjoyment, but when it's like this album, it's great. Really, it's Lucinda Williams who is fantastic. And I readily admit I might be mistaken when I call this country. Is it folksy-rock? Alt-country? I really don't know. I did enjoy listening to this album and most of what I've heard by her I also like. (For example, I absolutely love her song, "Righteously".) She's superb, and this album is very much worth a listen.

Given the history of country albums in this list I was slowly losing faith in the genre altogether. Of course, all I longed for was for Lucinda Williams to appear to make it all okay. Thank you country. Thank you Lucinda Williams.

a la segunda escuchada pegó.

Great mix of Americana, Country, and Blues giving space to each to shine. Several tracks reminded me of Big Thief Highlights: Right in Time Car Wheels On A Gravel Road Lake Charles Can't Let Go Joy

This album is best described as alt-country but that doesn’t quite cover it. The music shows influence from 90s alternative and feminist rock alongside the more traditional country influences. Lucinda Williams’ lyrics focus largely on love but remain firmly grounded as exemplified by the closing track. Though the album is subdued, there is a lot going on that deserves close attention. It’s not as simplistic as it might initially seem.

Funny to have another country album right in a row, but with such a stark difference in quality. THIS is the country I can fw. Her voice is fantastic and the lyrics touch on some familiar country cliches, but in a way that isn't cheesy and grating.

Good Americana

I enjoyed it a lot

This is a beautiful album from the title track Car Wheels on a Gravel Road to the excellent 2 Kool 2 B Forgotten and the Louisiana soliloquy of Lake Charles. I actually first encountered and fell in love with this Williams album while living in Louisiana and it slides right in there under most circumstances. Just really pleasant.

Life says that everyone, at one time or another, will have to do something they don't want to do. For me it was growing up and getting in line. Figure out how to pay bills. No more of this 'build it as you go' flibbertigibbet crap. I had moved out, 3,000 miles from my family after high school to do something I loved, only I learned that I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. It was a hard pill to swallow, but people were nice, still it was hard for me to find my path. This album played constantly in the background in places that I didn't want to be. Looking back on those days and listening to this again, I realize I'd give anything to be back there. Reflection and this album with Lucinda's steady voice that makes me understand how simple, easygoing and enjoyable life was in the 90s. Glad to have had to listen to this again.

I greatly preferred the more bluegrassy songs on "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road." The more country-tinged songs were not my thing. But the bluegrass was strong enough to earn the 4th star.

Her voice sounds like she swallowed some of that gravel road and I love it. Can't Let Go is a personal fav.

This is really a 3.5. Never really listened to her before, but I would totally listen to this again and Can’t Let Go is a 👌 track. But she loses half a star because I have a general preference for listening to singers I could not potentially sound better than, and I’m afraid she veers into the Sheryl Crow category there.

Pretty great album, love Williams singing and songwriting on this record.

At first I thought this was going to be another inoffensive album that was going to go in one ear and out the other for me but about 5 songs in I was really engaged and fully enjoying it. It's a fun singer-songwriter album that doesn't get super slow or wistful (for the most part) and instead delivers a lot of neat 90s country/rock sounds especially on tracks like joy and drunken angel. I spaced out during some of the tracks so I might relisten to some of those but the first listen was still super positive regardless. I listened again and everything was on par with a 4 but nothing that elevated the album beyond first impressions.

I'm having a great time with all this mum rock tbh. didn't think I'd love it so much

This was a cheap CD purchase, and last time I listened I was unconvinced. So one result of listening again might of been to rip and remove. Instead its back on the shelves. The first side of this album is pretty well pitch perfect: a sweet spot between Springsteen, Nanci Griffiths and Gillian Welch. The kind of country rock I can absolutely get behind. Roy Bittan from the E St Band helped produce so no surprise at times it has the boss vibes, and the title track is one that the man himself would wish he had written. The second half can't quite sustain the stellar quality of the first, and there's a track too many, so four stars.

This album has no idea what it wants to be. Is it country? Sure. Is it rock? Also, sure. It swings back and forth between the two so hard that, at times, it felt like I was listening to two different albums. That said, Lucinda's songwriting is stellar. A bit dated with the repetitive one-liner choruses that were so in vogue in the late 90s but still really solid songwriting. In fact, once I stopped paying attention to the music (and getting annoyed by it) and started listening to the lyrics, I started to appreciate and even enjoy this one. So much so that I revised the score from 2 to a really solid 4-stars.

nice album, not the kind of music that usually does it for my but easy to listen to (mostly) and fun. I think it loses it's way a little near the end, "Joy" being appalling noise which I barely managed to listen to all the way through

A long time since I last heard this album - it's still great!

The obvious heir apparent of Emmylou Harris, who appears on this album. She's got a Willie Nelson quality to her as well, even more so if Willie drank whiskey as much as he smokes weed. This is Lucinda's most praised album but I ride hard for a few others. She somehow doesn't get the universal hosannas that someone with her talent deserves. That might have something to do with the fact that her output isn't as prolific as most artists in country music. Give Lucinda Williams credit for instead only releasing music when it's good and ready, when she knows it's exceptional.

Lucinda Williams sings with real emotion. The music is folksy-blues, with a Cajun bite.

4.25

Group listened in the car to Cantabria. Very nice

This is very good but not emmylou

I don’t have much to say about this album other than that I thoroughly enjoyed almost all of it. A solid country rock album with just enough yeehaw in it to have a good time throughout. Personal favorite tracks are “Right In Time”, “I Lost It”, and “Metal Firecracker”.

I enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would. The beginning of “car wheels..” reminded me a bit of “Dani California” by the rhcp. I would listen to more of her albums.

Right in my wheelhouse this. Lovely songwriting, beautiful delivery. 4/5

Excellent album, 5 stars in my memory, but now listening to it again after quite some years, I felt underwhelmed by several songs. The album also suffers from the fact that Lucinda Williams' best songs can be found on her previous albums. But still an excellent album of course.

It's a great album - I've loved it since I first heard it years ago, even though this sort of Americana is not usually to my taste. I think she has an intriguing voice, writes catchy tunes, and writes with a direct, original style.

Beautiful heartfelt country record that overstays it's welcome just a bit too much. Side A is in my opinion the stronger side, while side B drags on a bit. Still very enjoyable and a great listen! Favorite lyrics: - The telephone poles, trees, and wires fly on by. - Some kind of savior singin' the blues. A derelict in your duct tape shoes. - Did an angel whisper in your ear? And hold you close, and take away your fear? In those long, last moments. - I got a big chain around my neck. And I'm broken down like a train wreck. Favorite tracks: - Right In Time - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road - 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten - Drunken Angel - Lake Charles - Can't Let Go 7,5 out of 10

Ooh love it. Can't let gos great

Good run of albums here

Pretty freakin cool we got to see her perform at Red Rocks #humblebrag

I like the country sound and some of them are very well written. It’s a melancholic sound with soft pop in it.

Nice mellow country album with just the right amount of grit.

Hadn't heard of her but quite enjoyed listening to this

Felt abit of blues, country and some folk. Overall good variety solid album.

Objectively, this is a really good album. She influenced and outlasted artists like Sheryl Crow and KT Tunstall. Good voice, great story-telling. Good shit.

Didn't think I was all that keen on country, but this album was pretty rocking. Full of feeling but with enough power to feel a bit feisty. Lovely stuff

Finally, some Country I enjoy. Great stuff!

I liked it, solid background. Nothing stood out but it was a good listen overall.

I really like Folk music and Americana so this album is right up my alley. Great songwriting and imagery of life in America.

Perfect Sunday soundtrack that just rolls through the heart. Even though I now barely drink and haven't touch a cigarette in over a decade, for me this album envokes the sweet haze of a mild hangover, more sleep deprived than feeling ill, your body infused with the scent of stale cigarettes as you chainsmoke lying in the afternoon sun

Soothing music, great for calm late nights

A great combo of traditional country with all it's southern rural hurtin' themes and a modern, rocky, but not overproduced sound. Her voice seems weak and flawed at times but that adds to her vulnerability. I especially like it on Drunken Angel and believe that there may be a few alt country singers influenced by that sound, based on what Spotify sends me. One more listen might get a 5 from me.

Earthy, languid, bittersweet and sexy. Effortless, bluesy sound that probably launched a hundred alt-country bands, all inferior. This is such a perfect listen for a late summer afternoon. Fave Songs: I Lost It, Metal Firecracker, Right in Time, Can't Let Go, Drunken Angel, Still I Long for Your Kiss, Joy

Loving this. Been on a mission to seek out more female rock/country artists, and Lucinda just shot to the top of my list. After a quick Google seems like she's doing some shows with Waxahatchee, which makes perfect sense to be now. Incredible voice, great musicality, perfect for listing to on these hot summer evenings. I'm not a massive country fan, but there's more than enough bluesy toe-tapping, head-nodding, guitar-sliding goodness here to get me on board

Envie de hit the road

nostalgic

This was a new name for me, but I know I have heard Lucinda Williams' music before, playing on our public radio station's morning show. This album definitely painted lovely pictures of the South, and I enjoyed the ride. The title itself evokes such memories and stirs up emotions as it repeats through the title song.

Good solid bluesy country folk, reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss. Very nice.

I haven't listened to Lucinda Williams that I recall. But I have heard the songs she has written. She has an authentic feel that is appealing. I feel like I just walked into a dive bar where someone better than the joint is performing. Not my favorite country album, but still pretty darn good.

4 of 5. Great voice

Another classic!

A favorite

I love Folk Rock so Americana and some Alt Country is fully in my lane. And knowing that she toured with Jason Isbell just makes me like her and this album more. "Right In Time" and the titular track were two of my favorites. I certainly attach more to the Americana aspects, but it is good Country music too. A very re-listenable album for sure!

As a country album, it's an equivalent of a white bread. And... I liked it. Being a perfectionist, Williams reportedly released this album six yees after her previous one. While conflicts does contribute to this delay, I can still observe the sanitized feel of the album. I love her voice. It's soothing and when used well, it carries emotion like it's a wave. But even that is generic. Not even the admittedly nice interaction with the male backing vocals made it a unique voice. The instrumentals are pretty good. Everything is in the right place, but ultimately, it becomes a bit predictable, and therefore uninteresting. The production is neat, but again, generic. The critics were praising her songwriting skills. Judging by the tracks' titles, it might be interesting but I don't want to explore it further. Again, this is like white bread. That mass produced, generic commodity that one can find in the local store. Her perfectionism might have made her album overtidy and uninteresting, but I've got to admit that she still did a great job crafting its overall sound. I unashamedly enjoyed this white bread, and I don't mind consuming it again... after a while.

Very sheryl-crowly...

reminds of my sheryl crow

surprisingly good. Also, she must be friends with Sheryl Crow

Pretty dang good roots country. Consistent from front to back 👍

Love the album cover for some reason... And hey, it's pretty good roots, blues, souly country AND western. Generous 4/5

A few years ago I was listening to spotify similar to playlists and songs from this album were on that list. Prior to this I was never really into any form of country music, but I enjoyed the songs and decided to listen to this album in full. It completely worked for me and introduce me to the genre. Lucinda Williams has led me to other country acts and it's a genre that has some really great music if you avoid the mediocre radio pushed country. 4.5/5

Great surprise. I really liked it. The melodies are great. More a rock and pop album than a country album.

Uh, 2 CD-a. Iznenađujuće dobar đir. Možda bi bilo malo dosadno da san slušala i ne radila ništa, a ne da san radila još dosadniji labos. Greenwill mi je najbolja. Nikad čula za Lucindu, al bolje nego većina ostalih country koje san slušala do sad

I really liked this album, and would never have found it if not for this website.

Okay I might like some country

Хорошее такое кантри, захотелось в село, пить из соломинки самогон)

Somber morning Americana with some excellent twang to it embellished by guest vocals.

Lo escuché muy a gusto, pensé que es una antecedente de Taylor Swift (???) y su voz me agrada bastante. Canciones fav: la que da título al disco, "Can't Let Go" y "I Lost It". 8/10

Lucinda Williams has made a great country album from a singer songwriter point. The songs are solid and the production is spot on.

More of Jess bag than Ian. But her voice conveys pain and longing. Certainly a lot of depth and attests to a life lived.

4.0 - Enjoyed this! Honest American songwriting, blues and country inflected. Straightforward instrumentation with a live studio recording feel. Some pleasant storytelling, shoutouts to Louisiana. Nice driving record and a crowd pleaser.

Really solid Southern roots rock/country featuring Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle. What else could you want? I enjoyed reading about how Lucinda persevered and made it in the music business despite all of the forces working against her. Best track: Drunken Angel

Never heard of Lucinda Williams before, but loved this album. Favorite song was can’t let go.

wow, I was familiar with her, but I didn't know Lucinda Williams had an album this good

I thought i would know what this would sound like being a hater of country music, but it was more like a rock album and absolutely loved it. Song 7 was the highlight - Can't Let Go. Will give it another listen 4 stars

Noch nie gehört, aber werde mich damit beschäftigen. Tolles Album!

nie znałam zupełnie przyjemne, choć monotonne

Sehr guter moderner country

Почему бы и не кантри

Good country music, what else do I have to say?

false

Not the sort of thing I'd normally listen to but really enjoyed this. Will listen again.

I love Lucinda Williams and I love this album... but the song title 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten detracts a star.

great lyrics, great voice!

A nice country folk rock album better than expected

not bad, one of a few country albums I actually enjoy

Love this album and love Lucinda Williams. 4 stars.

Great album all around! I've listened through the regular version, but the deluxe is a nice step up. Disk 2 is all live versions, so I didn't get that far, but I love Lucinda!

Despite this being a country album, quite enjoyed some of the songs, especially the last song, Jackson.

First song is a old indie country bop, and the rest is good country songs if i am in the mood for that relaxing country

interesting voice and tempo, the sound quality is pretty nice and most songs are good

3.5

Es verbindet modernen Touch mit bodenständigem Country‑Feeling. Die Platte besticht durch rauchige Vocals, starke Songideen und eine authentische, erdige Atmosphäre. Besonders die Songtexte und die intime Erzählweise bleiben im Gedächtnis. Ein solides, charakterstarkes Album für Hörer, die handgemachten Country mit zeitgemäßer Note schätzen — nicht ganz makellos, aber mit viel Seele.

I enjoyed it but it's not particularly great

3.5. Кантрі-рок непоганий. Подобається там де більше рок і менше кантрі. Думаю, що якось під настрій ще переслухаю альбом.

Ну, в цілому непогана американа, особливо початок альбому якось жваво пішов. Але після середини я зловив себе на думці що нудно. Загалом 3.

good all around album- folksy/western 0 but in a good way. Plays well today

Right In Time Drunken Angel Joy I definitely enjoyed this more than I expected to!

It's a fairly standard piece of 90s alt-country, complete with the more indie rock passages and a vocal performance that isn't trying to be perfect, it's just trying to get the point across. It's the second example of a later-career release by a veteran country songstress exploring the new sound of alternative country, the first being Emmylou Harris' Wrecking Ball released 3 years prior. This album is definitely more rooted in traditional country where Wrecking Ball veered too often into straight-up U2 territory (Daniel Lanois produced it: go figure.) If you want an authentic middle point between the traditional country Williams had made for much of her career before this album and the more modern sound that brought country to the 21st century, this is the album for you. For me, I like about half of this album for its down to earth sound and the convincing performance from Lucinda Williams herself. However, a lot of this is a little TOO safe sounding, which makes some of the songs feel like they've been placed in the exact middle of the road depicted on the album cover. Despite how authentically country this album is for most of that runtime, there's a strikingly modern sound to it: it sounds like a 2010s album in places, which really lends a timeless quality to the mixing. Really nothing is out of place on that front It also defies the peak CD-era convention of making as many inhumanly long songs as possible to fill the 80-minute runtime - this album doesn't waste any of its 51 minutes. Owing to the stellar production job, I guess you could also argue it's a perfect bridge between folky roots rock and alt-country as well. That's the surprising thing about this album: for how straightforward it's played, it really serves as a bridge between sub-genres and movements, a road between towns if you prefer. Key Tracks: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Concrete and Barbed Wire, Still I Long for Your Kiss

Some different types of country; nothing special.

3.75 Really close to a 4 but just not there! That being said, I listened to this a lot yesterday! It was great chill traveling music during my chores. Lucinda is very talented. Felt like a deeper, folksier Sheryl Crow (no offense intended to Miss Crow), or like, a female Ryan Adams (hopefully with none of his personal awfulness).

Aunque en Apple Music lo clasifican como rock, siento que es más country, género que no soporto. Ya en las últimas canciones estaba a punto de rendirme porque no podía escuchar más. No está mal si escuchas dos tres canciones, pero ni de chiste vuelvo a escuchar el álbum completo.

Alright but country isn’t my favourite genre

Just not for me

Actually, not bad though the algorithm has not been nice for rock albums recently so just bad timing for it

Country is not my favorite genre, and the whole album was a little monotone. I still enjoyed a new take on country with some blues and folk sound.

I can see some of the beauty and appeal in this, but it just doesn’t necessarily work for me. Lucinda Williams is bringing together this precise sort of 90s female alt singer-songwriter softness and exposed wobbliness with a raw country sound, and it’s not something I found myself clicking with really. There’s some great tracks in here, some great songwriting, but it felt like it was going long, like a lot of the tracks ended up blending together in tone and writing (I respect naming places often for connecting to the spirit but it becomes a wash as someone external to it all), like I would very wildly on how I felt about the intentionally thrown vocals - just wasn’t in my bag so none of it was coming to me. A shame but I’m glad it works for others nonetheless.

This was alright. Nothing I'd play again. I did appreciate the 90s sound to it obviously.

Second-rate Sheryl Crow. Nothing wrong with it, there's just better 90s country.

Fint nok.

Reminds me of the warden from Holes. Cool slide guitar riffs, good harmonica sound. Accordion on Lake Charles track.

Heard this one quite a bit back in the record store days. Some of my co-workers were fans. I've always liked Lucinda, but never really more than that. Giving this a re-listen didn't change my opinion. She is talented, but several of the lyrics are overly repetitive. Still a good listen, but not more than that.

It's just another "didn't love it ... didn't hate it" album for me. One thing I am not a big fan of is her vocals. 2.5 stars!

There are some really good moments, but many of the songs suffer from repetitive choruses.

When country meets 90s alt-rock. Some jam-based tracks. A lot of the songs seem pretty similar to each other.

A good early morning album...or late night in the dark.

This was a great traditional country album. Loved the twang, her vocals are great, the the guitar is just enough to support without getting in the way. Lake Charles and can’t let go are particularly good.

Rating:★★★ Finally, some country on here. Never heard this album before. Nice Writing, sometimes a bit boring in my opinion but otherwise I enjoyed it.

6.5/10

solid 3.5

Better than most country music, it still isn't a genre I would seek out. Her playing and singing are done well on the album, though some of the songs are kind of generic. 2.5/5 Probably won't listen again

This sounds like it should be an enjoyable album. The delivery of the vocals however, destroys anything the music is laying down. It gets super old by track 3. The songwriting style is as follows: 1. Come up with a track name 2. Repeat it unendingly until the song is over. The music is fine, but there's nothing here worthy of a relisten.

Sheryl Crow deserves at least 40% of the royalties …or vice versa

It was ok miguel

It’s a bit like a country version of Sheryl Crow. Good songwriting. Some of it is a bit too country for my taste but I respect it! Appreciate all the Louisiana references. 3.4/5.0

This is fine. A little generic feeling.

Lucinda Williams dropped a dynamite album here. The songs are great and help bridge the gap between old school country and newer country without committing to the party atmosphere that a lot of country songs and artists have done in recent years.

Nice but parts were way to country/folksy for me. I would still give it three stars.

A really nice country-rock album, consistently solid from start to finish without ever quite reaching greatness. Lucinda Williams has a knack for a catchy melody and her drawling, languid vocals work perfectly with the lyrics. The production and arrangements are good too, lots of slide guitar, accordion, etc. No real standout but if I had to pick a few I’d go for ‘Right in Time’, the title track and ‘Can’t Let Go’. With a bit more variety and/or a truly great song or two I might give this a higher score, but it’s still a very strong 3 stars.

A fair country album.

country girl

Another new artist for me, and one I can already tell is going to be another American Country act. With it's opening track "Right In Time", my expectations were already tuned to 'generic country album'. Despite that initial impression, "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" is already more rock-leaning than country typically is, which was a nice surprise. There is a slight rock-y, edginess to this country album that I didn't expect that continued into other tracks like "Drunken Angel" that continued to surprise. That being said, I notice that, although Williams can definitely sing, there is something missing in her vocals for me. Kinda stumped for comments beyond what's already been said; yet another album that is perfectly pleasant and serviceable as casual listening music, but nothing much more than that. Other tracks I can say I still enjoyed: "Can't Let Go", "I Lost It", "Greenville", "Joy", "Jackson".

slow americana. not bad, cheryl crowe-ish

Disappointing

your mom loved listening to this on cassette in her Chrysler Town + Country (non-derogatory)

Вау, этот сайт умеет генерировать в пики женские альбомы. Не могу поверить. Милый альбом, но для меня слишком амэрикан. И разницу между песнями лично мне трудно уловить. Разобрала шкаф с одеждой под него, но до 4 все равно не дошло.

Jackson is one of those last song on the album gems I love, beautiful bit of country. Ditto Greenville and Lake Charles. She sounds drunk on Drunken Angel, it is not good.When she moves to the more upbeat stuff, its not as good either. I played this to death when it first came out, not so much now. I saw her in 2009 and it was not good, lost my late 90's passion for what she was doing. Deadbeats, this is good and worthy of a listen, but it is patchy.

Excellent

Her later more rock-inspired albums are much better. world without tears is amazing.

A pretty nice album. I enjoyed most of it. Toward the end, it started to get on my nerves a bit. Besides, you heard this sound quite often toward the end of the ’90s. In that sense, the album doesn’t seem to have been particularly influential. 3/5

no thanks!

This may be the most "3" album of the 602 I've heard so far. There's some great songwriting, but does she need to mention every city and town in Louisiana?

I quite liked the beginning even though each song was very repetitive. Lost me in the last half/third.

Probably realistically a 3.5 for me. Some really strong songs and some others that are just bang average. A little same-y

yummm

5/10… heartland rock / country /*1998

No ha estado mal, al principio parecía que iba a ser mucho mejor, pero para mi gusto se ha desinflado un poco. Me guardo tres canciones de las primeras: Right in time, 2 kool 2 be 4-gotten y Drunken angel.

There are a few songs that are a bit too country for me, but I think the songwriting is strong and the more alt-country or americana parts are really good. 7/10

Comes out the gate very strong and soulful, but it loses its luster about halfway in, it's a very specific kind of music and the album as a whole just doesn't spread its wings much outside of that niche.

I'm so excited for this. It's been something that I have only recently gotten into so it's exciting to now really examine it. Ok, so I get it. This album is good and important. But it's not my fave style of country. Still, I got mad respect for Lucinda

alright, not bad

Liked this a lot more than I expected lol Fav: Drunken Angel

Americana

Pretty good songwriting and great production on this album. It's not my favourite type of music, but I appreciate Williams' drunk/stoned country-ish voice. Her approach is certainly original and worthy of inclusion on the 1001 list.

Just average. Nice voice, but didn’t really do anything for me. Songs were just sort of there. Nothing stood out.

I'd not heard of Lucinda Williams before, but I could tell this was going to be a country music album from the song titles. Shania Twain and LeAnn Rimes were both breaking through in the UK around this time by giving their music a more 'poppy' feel, but Lucinda has stayed true to her country blues roots and I'd rather listen to this than anything by the previously mentioned people to be honest. The album starts well with Right In Time, my favourite ttrack is Can't Let Go and, although a number of the tracks don't hold my attention, the only song that irritates me is Joy. Her voice is another slight bone of contention. It's like, you know she can sing, but sometimes she tries not too and I'm not even sure if that's off-putting or intriguing! A low 3 stars.

I liked her voice and her vibe. A bit melancholy, but not depressing.

Very 90s. Enjoyed the nostalgia trip

An album that just screams 90s

country roooooaaads take me hoooooome

nice

Never really listened to this genre of country or folk, but this album was pretty good. Jackson was beautiful, definitely my favorite. I'm feeling a 6.8/10.

Right in Time - 5/10. Not bad. Not particularly memorable, though. Not a big fan of the vocal style. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road - 6/10. Decent. 2 Cool 2 Be 4-gotten - 5/10. Not bad, but not great either. Drunken Angel - 6/10. Solid. Concrete and Barbed Wire - 5/10. Not bad. Lake Charles - 6/10. Good use of Cajun themes in the instrumentation and structure. Can't Let it Go - 5/10. Not bad. I Lost It - 5/10. Not bad. Still I Long for Your Kiss - 5/10. Decent. Metal Firecracker - 5/10. OK. Greenville - 5/10. OK. Joy - 6/10. Bluesy and fun. Jackson - 7/10. Very pretty. Overall Rating - 2.73/5 (5.46/10). Not my style on the vocals. Decent folk-country, though.

A few songs get their claws in me. “Car Wheels” and “2 Good…”, “Drunken Angel” (hmm, kinda frontloaded I see). Williams’ voice is distinct, evocative, sometimes a little played-up into irritating. Sonically it’s very country-verging-into-Americana, and sounds ragged but clean. A good record, not a knockout.

Good lyrics. Heavy on the twang. Can hear Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow.

Would've liked this a lot more if it were 40 minutes long or so

Enjoyed the first few tracks - and I thought maybe this will be a unknown gem for me as I am partial to a little bit of soft country rock. Unfortunately the quality begins to diminish and they all begin to merge into one big country twang. It reminded me a little of Cardigans country album - long gone before midnight - which I love and have listened to hundred of times. I'm sure if I listened to this enough it would grow alot more on me but sadly only managed a couple of listens due to its length. A high 3.

Another day, another Country album that I expected not to like, and was mostly correct. It was bearable, it’s at least a 3, but I’m not the biggest fan of this type of accent, and in some songs it’s insufferable. However, this album has 2 shining moments that are actually quite good. Those being “Can’t Let Go” and “Joy”. They rocked surprisingly hard. So, for how much I’m not a fan of the accent, the album really isn’t that bad as a whole. Sometimes it’s actually pretty good, especially the instrumentation. It’s Country, so there’s not a lot I can even really say about it. Over 30 Country albums on here, only 4 of them have a decent rating, and this one doesn’t even make the top 30 according to the ratings. Pretty rough when not even the general reviews don’t love it. A lot of them said this was boring, which is the one thing I don’t necessarily agree with. It had enough going for it where I was never actively in misery. Didn’t manage to listen to it for the entire day, but I also didn’t hate it, and I actually ended up adding “Joy” to my frequent rotation. So, 2 great songs, a few ok and a lot of skippable filler. As far as Country goes, this wasn’t terrible. Will I be returning to it? God no. Give it a 3.25/5 and move on to the next one. Oddly enough though, I think I might remember this one after the fact. So it’s got that going for it at least.

Kudos for incorporating 90s rock feel, but I didn’t love it

I really dig her distinct singing voice! I feel like she should have a few more albums on this list but looks like the list is playing popularity favorites again. The sound of the music here is solid. It’s a nice sounding take on the country roots style. Definitely way better than that pop-country crap that is unfathomably popular. I haven’t heard this in a while but on this listen I do hear the Bob Dylan influence clearly now. The recording is maybe a little too clean but I’m probably conditioned now from hearing so many great sounding albums from the ‘70s on this list. She’s had an amazingly great output of material post-stroke so I’m pretty sure there’s a few more albums that should be on this list along with this one.

This was a good, soothing listen. She has a Sheryl Crow vibe. I liked it.

якесь заніжне

I wasn't digging this at first, not the kind of music I seek out or particularly enjoy. However, the longer the album went on, the more I found myself enjoying it. "Joy" is the best song on the album.

The better songs sounded like Sheryl Crow.

6.0/10 I enjoyed a few songs

It's OK, but quite generic. 2.5

Easy listening

It's like 90s indie grunge but if it were country

3.5 if i could

I like the vibe of the songs but I don’t really like the way she sings. That might just be because I don’t really like country music so i’m still giving it a 3.

Not bad at all. Pleasant atmosphere and some pretty fun choruses. There’s not a lot of variety; this album starts to drag a little towards the end. It’s not laid back to the point of being boring but also not terribly entertaining. Decent but nothing soecial.

I very much don't care about this type of country music. She's a good singer, but the songs are boring, but they are played ok. It gets a little less boring when it pretends to be pop, but all in all, a very meh experience. 2.5/5

Album 1059 of 1089 Car Wheels On A Gravel Road - Lucinda Williams (1998) Rating : 3.5 / 5 This one settles into that country-folk lane with just enough rock edge to keep it interesting. At moments, I even caught myself thinking about what Liz Phair might sound like leaning more into country as there’s that same plainspoken, grounded feel in the delivery. The songwriting is definitely there. These are well-crafted songs with personality and purpose. The production is strong - clean without being overpolished - and the background vocals and musicianship show real experience behind the scenes. You can hear seasoned players throughout, which adds depth without overpowering the material. Vocally, she may not blow the doors off the place, but these are her songs, and she delivers them with authenticity. Sometimes that matters more than range or power. Overall, a decent album and an enjoyable listen. Not one that floored me, but certainly one that deserves another spin down the road.

Very Sheryl

I am always happy when a Lucinda Williams song comes up in my mix. Listening to a whole album they all felt like they were of similar tone and delivery. There was a distinct lack of variety.

Not bad, but doesn't really stand out from the general sound of 90s pop country

Si es un poco genérico. Me gusta el twang. Drunken angel no me molesta. Que tiene de malo lo sencillo y poco pretencioso? A veces es necesario.

I mean… sure. It’s better than some of these other late 90s/early 00s albums.

Just some stereotypical rock-infused country. I've heard better albums by Lucinda Williams. At some points on here. Her voice reminded me of a cartoon character, but I forget which character it was and I don't want to listen to this album again to make myself remember.

lots of imagery around competing textures: barbwire concrete, metal firecracker, rubber on gravel

Gostei da capa e do título, me lembra uma aventura em Rancho Queimado. Já gostei da intro com violãozinho. Bem aconchegante, a voz dela enjoa um pouco as vezes, mas é divertidinho do início ao fim. Darei 3*.

cute! but pretty run of the mill vocals and lyrics for the most part highlights: Drunken Angel Lake Charles Still I Long For Your Kiss

Better than I expected. Some songs had super vibey instrumentation and I didn't mind her voice. Most songs were fairly standard country music and it was a very long album so I eventually got bored It had a harmonica in it so it's a low 3 rather than a mid 3

So she kind of sings in cursive and honestly that’s the biggest takeaway I got from this album. I’m not feeling it, she’s not my type of country singer, like she’s kind of like the female Blake Shelton or something, it’s all fine but it just feels like she’s reading from a page rather than singing something she resonates with, it just doesn’t feel deep at all. Lowkey she sound like what I’d imagine Chloe (Susan’s sister) in ER would sound like if she was a singer. 55/100

Ajjj, trochę to było zbyt naiwne i prostolinijne jak dla mnie. Takie trochę autorskie, ambitne country, które nie potrafi trafić do celu. Ale za to wokal przyjemny. 6/10

I think “Cant let go” kinda saves this album from falling into “I guess it’s ok, next please” category, but i feel like this list had more interesting albums in similar kinda “genre” (Bonnie Rait - Nick of time for example)

Lucinda's gravelly voice has an unmistakable appeal, and the sweet rhythm-and-blues of these songs is great. This wouldn't be my pick for her best album, though. I'd probably go with World Without Tears. Lucinda's stream-of-consciousness lyrics can have a rugged sense of presence most of the time, but many of the songs on here are, to my mind, just plain bad from a writing standpoint.

2 Kool to be 4-gotten is a good song with a terrible title.

Yeee-Naw