Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

An interesting take on a modern country album. Its a fairly pleasant to listen, I enjoyed her voice. The lyrics aren't remarkable but the theme of longing and loneliness is very clear. However I just found it thoroughly boring.

Chill, and nostalgic. I may like it if I heard it ten years earlier. It’s a kind of albums you can’t even recall three days later.

Quite enjoyed this

4 albums short of the big 500, and I think your brain starts doing funny things. Or maybe it’s simply that anything slightly different to standard variants of man rock sounds more appealing all the time. Either way, I thought I would hate this, but it was a nice pleasant interlude to the usual, and while it feels fairly standard alt country, there were enough twists with blues and bluegrass to keep it musically interesting, and there were some decent songs there.

Not great at all, but I did enjoy a few songs quite a bit. But others were terrible. Bumping up my score a bit to show my appreciation for the few songs I did think were quite solid.

I enjoyed this. Nice, enjoyable easy listening. I'd never heard of her before and this was a nice surprise

Coming from an era where country was veering sharply into the pop domain, Lucinda Williams gives an unvarnished view of the South and her experiences therein. Helped by the goat Steve Earle, this is a stripped down experience where Williams’ voice is allowed to shine. There’s better country around and on this list, but pretty solid.

Lacks energy. Forgettable. I should like this more, but I genuinely don't think it's that good.

Sympa

Lucinda Williams is one of those artists who isn't super popular among listeners, but is known and appreciated among other country and folk artists. This album provides a nice window into her capabilities. While I was not blown away, I found her voice appealing and the music to be enjoyable. I don't know what exactly makes this album a "must listen" and a fit for this project, though.

It’s aight

This album is often held up as a landmark of Americana, but to my ears it leans more toward polished country pop than raw, rootsy storytelling. The songwriting is solid and Williams’ voice has character, yet the production smooths things out in a way that blurs some of the emotional grit the songs seem to aim for. It’s easy to appreciate and well-crafted, but it doesn’t quite deliver the rough-edged authenticity I expect from Americana.

i feel like i get the album identical to this for the 7th time already

Right in Time 3.2 Car Wheels on a Gravel Road 3.4 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten 3.3 Drunken Angel 3.5 Concrete and Barbed Wire 3.1 Lake Charles 3.4 Can't Let Go 3.2 I Lost It 3.3 Metal Firecracker 3.3 Greenville 3 Still I Long for Your Kiss 3.2 Joy 3.6 Jackson 3 Score: 3.269230769

Overall rating by me: 6/10 Songs added to the playlist: ,,Right In Time” Notes: Very toned-down and melancholic - even the songs that are more rhythmic in this album are on the slower side. Soft vocals and country sound really put this all together.

i am not from the US i dont care much for country tbh

This was hard at first, I laughed at the terrible 90s vibe of the spelling of 2 kool 2 b 4 gotten. But by the end I really liked it. Turns out Lucinda Williams is the godmother of modern Americana which I’m a fan of so I’ll give this another go to see where it takes me. I hope there’s more from her on the list.

Pleasant listen. Not my favorite genre but some good tracks. Nice country-folk vibes and Lucinda has a great voice for this genre.

Not my style of country/folk but the execution is good. The highs aren't high enough to make it a great album.

I have heard other artists I like talk about how much they love this album. I've never sat down and listened to it, though. Given that I knew other artists loved it, I had high expectations. But I don't think it quite met those expectations. It's not bad, but also not quite grabbing me. Good, not great.

*The title track is a great song, but that's definitely the highlight of the album.

It’s sad that they couldn’t tune to pitch perfect. Good relaxing soothing country(?) music. If it can be redone with a better production and arrangement, it’d be much better. Her voice was barely produced. She can sing but some tracks are not showing her best voice range. Drunken Angel was quite bad. In one track she sounded like she was having a baby potato in her mouth - concrete and barbed wire. And she also uses deep and slow vibratos too often, which was fine in the 90s but not preferred now. It could be a 4 star album but landed at 2 star standard.

I liked this. It was a nice bluegrass/country album. Don’t think I’ll really ever go much higher than a three for an album like this, but it was fine.

Listened to it on Friday and forgot to write my review. I remember I enjoyed it more than I anticipated, but that’s about it.

Another solid album by an artist I've never heard of. Kind of wild though that this is in Rolling Stones top 100 albums of all times. That seems a little excessive.

Not usually my genre, but I liked this okay. Halfway thru it felt like a geography lesson, though.

Very Cheryl crow

Liked it more than I thought I would

Drunken Angel and Can't Let Go the highlights. Good album, gritty.

Liked two of the songs, probably from hearing them on Radio Paradise, but the rest seemed a little samey.

Made me think of a more indie version of Sheryl Crow. High 3

Would like a little more alt and a little less country. I didn’t mind it though

It was ok

Can't let go is een lekker nummertje, voor de rest wel heel volks. Denk alleen maar aan paarden en schieten.

Day 13 It's alright. It's not bad or anything; I quite enjoyed it. I really don't know why it's on the list though as it's just completely okay country. 3/5

A bit repetitive-feeling, but I was drawn by the story of perfectionism and therefore the effort she put in to this album. I like Country music generally, and this was pretty well-done.

Just OK

This had a few songs that I did not mind. I like her voice, and the music wasn't too country. Country usually hits a 2 for me. But this had enough to hit a 3.

This is like country Sheryl Crow....or country Aimee Mann? That's not a knock, it feels like a female Dwight Yoakum. Very much like Aimee Mann. This is a good album, not something I'd come back to multiple times, but I wouldn't complain if it was playing. Joy is the low point on the album. Jackson is a good song to close out the album though.

Reading about this album and the artist I wanted to love it, I went into it with a positive attitude but it was just kind of meh. I didn't think her story telling was all that amazing and I think the music was just fine. Maybe I need to listen again but nothing grabbed me or hit me as anything important.

I've heard of Lucinda Williams but knew nothing about her music. She reminds me a lot of Sheryl Crow, though she was making music long before Sheryl was. It was pretty and she’s a talented storyteller, but it didn’t really move me in any emotional way. Maybe if I spent more time with it, I’d find more to connect to, but I only had a chance to listen once today, and felt pretty neutral about it after one spin.

The flow of the title song's chorus grated on my nerves but I liked the rest of the album. It grew on me more and more as it progressed. Williams often sounded a lot like Sheryl Crow. I'd listen to this again.

Made me feel things, second half of the album especially. Made me create a new Spotify playlist for albums that made me feel, but can't say I enjoy every song so probably the harshest 3 stars yet

Very very high 3, a beautiful album with some stand out tracks

Perfectly mid.

This is not really my kind of music, but I can give credit where it is due. The album has a solid vibe, and Lucinda Williams clearly knows what she is doing as a songwriter. It has that dusty, Southern storytelling feel that a lot of people love. What really pulled me in was the slide guitar. Every time it showed up, the songs instantly got more interesting. It added grit, emotion, and honestly carried a few tracks that might have felt flat without it. I am a sucker for good slide work, and this album delivered on that front. Outside of the guitar moments, the album was just alright for me. Not bad, not great, but definitely easy to sit with once it gets rolling.

I really liked this album early on, but it was pretty much the exact same throughout. She has a great voice and all of the songs are good, but as a whole album it's not my favorite. I like the collaboration with Emmylou Harris on Greenville. The title track, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road was probably my favorite. Joy was another good song. Good album overall, but not my favorite.

The difficult gestation of this album is belied by the straightforward clarity of the production and the simplicity of the arrangements. William’s distinctive vocal style gives some character to what would otherwise be a fairly standard 90s alt country album. The themes of heartbreak and going home are familiar enough but she sings them likes she’s been to all the places she name-checks, which she likely has, and there’s a hard edged reality to her portrayal of the rural south.

A bit of a mixed bag. It's by no means a bad album, but it certainly does drag. At one point she sounded just as bored as I was. Still, some nice slide guitar and uptempo numbers, and I liked the track with Emmylou's harmony too.

I was ready to discount this one early on, but as it went on I actually enjoyed it more. Nothing earth shattering but kinda nice

Неплохая музыка, слушать можно, но не хочется

Good album overall. Has a very vintage feel despite being relatively recent. I really liked the use of hard panning because it made it easy to single out individual instruments.

Liked it more than I expected to—I've been on the fence on her music for a while but only ever knew a few songs. I would listen again but don't think it would make it into regular rotation.

Surprising, good combination of modern 90s rock and country. Will listen again could get around 4 stars. 3.5/5

6/10 Please to listen to, but didn't rock my world.

If you like this sort of stuff, you will dig this, a lot. Lucinda Williams is a strong singer/songwriter/guitarist. It’s just I find her voice a bit grating, and have a love hate relationship with a lot of country music in general. For me this was a bit of a slog, but it’s probably objectively a better album than I will give it credit for.

Fine, not super special for me

Not bad. Not groundbreaking enough that I think it belongs on this list, though.

What if Blue Rodeo had a female singer who couldn't carry a tune? I couldn't wait for this to be over. 2 stars because the actual music is good. The singing is just terrible.

If I had to listen to modern country I would play this, ⭐⭐⭐

Not too country, pretty chill

First impression was not good. This is my intro to Lucinda, but I’m drawn to come back. Will slot in the 3 spot and see if this grows on me. A down and dirty Sheryl Crowe? Not bad.

Too plain. Not relatable at the moment. First song is about longing for a lover

Not at all for me. But seems like it would be good for someone who's into this type of music. And it sounds like it means what it's saying. Can't say it's bad, just not my shit.

Tässä kuuluu kaiut ysäriltä ja 2000 luvun alulta. Haikeasti muistelen. What ever you do, right in time....

Album molt chill.

A fine dash of Americana, not unpleasant but not exceptionally memorable either

Not my style but enjoyable country. Not too much twang. I enjoyed the final song Jackson the most

Good stuff

Low 3? Generally fine, inoffensive, nothing crazy interesting though

I really liked a few of these, the title track will be in my head for a while in a good way

Sounds very country, but more rocky

Play with my balls gargle gargle slurp testicle fur.

I feel like this lives between Aimee Mann (whose songs and voice are a little too conventional for me) and Neko Case (whose amazing voice and weird, atmospheric songs are totally my thing). I wish the sound was more varied and unique, but it's all uniformly good.

I've said this a number of times now, but I'm not really big on country music at large. It's not a bad genre by any means. None of them are. Bad music genres simply don't exist in my eyes. However, country is one of the genres that I personally gravitate towards the least. With that said, this album's good. It's a solid country album. It's not my favorite, but it's not bad. Lucinda's voice does the job. The writing's good. Anything that isn't "whisky chevy jesus" or whatever gets played on the radio these days is good enough for me. There are some solid songs. The title track is pretty good. "Right in Time" is a nice opener. I'm not huge on every song though. "Joy" doesn't really work for me. I don't know why. The guitars are good. The album's a normal length. I respect this album, but I don't see myself going back to it much in the future. 3/5.

Lucinda wrote this album after accusing Len Houmous of stalking her. She referenced the sound of his car wheels on their gravel drive and the feeling of dread. He was never stalking her. It was her mum, Wilma Williams! 3.2 12/13 Joy

pretty cut and dry country stuff going on

I adore her voice and the music was good, but something about the album, maybe the songwriting, didn’t click with me. Might try out some of her other music.

Cute album. Enjoyed quite a few of these songs early on here, especially 'Car Wheels On A Gravel Road' and '2 Kool 1 Be-4-Gotten', and the vocals and lyrics I found were generally enjoyable; there's something mildly comedic about a good chunk of the way these songs are presented (and also pretty dark in the song 'Lake Charles'). Also, quite a few strong melodic hooks here, like with 'Metal Firecracker', which is driven by this slick little guitar riff. But overall, I'd say it falls into your standard '90s country-rock alley (especially in the pretty forgettable instrumentals, clean mixing, and lack of interesting fusions or song structures). Nothing mind-blowing, but totally manageable, and honestly didn't feel as long as it was.

I am familiar with her from listening to SXM’s Outlaw Country channel. This was OK. The kind of music that would play at a dusty roadside bar in the middle of nowhere Texas. The storytelling is good, but with this kind of music I would prefer Ray Wylie Hubbard. 3/5

This is the best Sheryl Crow album I have ever heard. Give it an extra half-star for the all-star lineup of backing musicians, including the excellently-named Gerf Morlix.

A fine album but low relisten probability for me.

3 sterne

Begint goed

A little alternative country. Pretty decent

Spoko ale kawałki są do siebie bardzo podobne

Dupy nie urywa, ale gitara momentami niezła. Doszedłem do wniosku że po pierwszych 4 utworach perkusista zasnął z nudów jak mu kazali grać 5 raz z rzędu to samo.

Drunken Angel is about Blaze Foley, a dude who should be on this list somewhere. Overall, this sounds like a typical Texas alt country album of the late 90s. It's solid, but there are better examples.

OK, this album isn’t bad; it’s just not that good. Her voice is good, I like that, but some of the lyrics are corny. 5/100

No it was alright. Country vibes. First couple songs. It was okay but nothing special

This was good! Very folk rock and Americana! I love the songwriting here and how open it feels! Enjoyed this album lot and Lucinda's voice is fantastic! Actual rating....3.5. Liked Songs: "Right In Time" , "2 Kool 2 Be 4-gotten" , "Drunken Angel" , "Lake Charles" , "Can't Let Go" , "Metal Firecracker" , "Greenville" , "Joy"

Pretty ok. Not a huge fan of the vocals 2.75

Something dad could listen to

Overall pretty good album. Standout songs: Drunken Angel Greenville

Started pretty strong and kind of fizzled out by the end.

I had never heard of this artist and that’s probably because I’d say she is country and not rock like Apple Music classifies the genre as. Now, me and country don’t normally go well together but this album is a bit different. It hasn’t got the usual over the top twangs that you normally associate with country music. Yes, you can hear it’s country but it’s not over done and her voice is very interesting. All in all I quite enjoyed it, will I listen again? Probably not but it was a little bit country and I didn’t hate it!

Fine if a bit plodding and repetitive.

Not too big a fan of the tropes of the country genre, but I liked her.

Lucinda cool. But not that cool. Always liked this album cover.

I mean it's fine, but am I really glad I got to listen to this before I died? Great voice though, almost like Sheryl Crow and sounds very 90s. 6/10

90s-00s era country music is among some of my least favorite music, but this album (while not immune to those influences) at least shows some progress toward the "Americana"/roots style music that is IMO much better.

Thought it was okay but not sure what makes it so special. Another one that might improve with another listen but I don't actually want to listen to it again

Enjoyable enough as background music, at little slow overall for what I like to listen to

I have listened to it before and did t really like it. But now I kind of enjoyed the record. Still not a favourite of mine but pretty good!

This is one of these solid country rock albums that lift up your spirits and are straightforward enjoyment, but nothing I'd consider something I would've ever listened to if it weren't for this list. I'd also say they would be nothing one needs to listen before they die.

Pretty good, for a country album. I didn’t love her voice initially but it definitely grew on me over the course of the album. I thought the album as a whole was way stronger than the sum of its parts.

Very pleasant.

okay alt country-emo album I guess. This lady sure is fucking sad.

Nice one.

Country music so not a fan. Not terrible though.

This was a decent album for rootsy folk rock and Americana. I can’t say it’s something I see myself coming back to, but it was good for what it was. It definitely has its time and place, even if it didn’t fully click with me personally.

I've been trying to figure out what's missing here. The song-writing and production are outstanding, and Williams has a voice that can soar or ache as the situation warrants. I'm old enough to remember the acclaim this album received when it came out nearly three decades ago, and it certainly deserves all the plaudits. But it never really grabbed me emotionally, so it's not a recording I've thought about in at least fifteen years. This latest listen didn't move the needle at all. Put it down to the subjectivity of musical taste, I guess.

Enjoyed.

Skilled guitarist. I am not a big country fan though.

Pleasantly surprised by this album. “It’s Country (Jim!) but not as we know it” springs to mind. Not your normal “Papa sittin’ on the porch” or “Mama hollering at Billy Jo” but some thought provoking lyrics and good melodies. Good melodies are always a hit for me. Pretty good production sounding great on my system. 3/5 20/8/25

6/10 - had some nice moments. Sounded like a sad cowgirl

point2.

Ok I may be weird but why do I kind of wanna be in the picture

It feels like I just spent an hour deep in the mid-west, and I really enjoyed it.

Rating: 6/10 Starts off great, the title track is especially amazing. The rest of it is pretty boring stereotypical radio-friendly country.

My threshold for quite sad country-ish women from the good old heartlands of the USA is extremely high, so this low rating is a very parental 'not angry, just disappointed, Lucinda'. She's got a lovely voice, and there are moments of really interesting songs on here - not least in the title track - but in the main it's just a bit too one paced and mooning.

Lucinda Williams just opened a Honkey Tonk in NYC this week. Pretty solid album. I don't know if I should now listen to Steve Earle, Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crowe or Liz Phair.

Not really my jam, but generally well created album with good performances

Decent listen, but nothing note worthy.

I’ve never been much of a country fan, but I ended up enjoying this one way more than I was expecting. It was a pretty good listen. I actually did know Metal Firecracker through the Tallest Man on Earth’s cover album, Too Late for Edelweiss. Still fairly unlikely that I’ll seek this out on my own in the future though

I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. Kinda vanilla. Sometimes that hits the spot though. 3/5 #135

There’s something I kinda like about the 90s production and her lazy delivery. Not bad for a night time car ride home.

I like Lucinda Williams but didn't care for this album. Enjoyed "can't let go".

If Sheryl Crow is rock/country, this is country/rock. With country being one of the genres that disappoints me most profoundly, I will say that at first this album was a delightful surprise. However, I eventually grew weary of it, and I wasn’t sure whether my mood or the music had changed. I went back to the earlier part of the album, and it had lost its shine. Not that it isn’t a fine enough album, but I just can’t buy into it fully. And I really don’t need the ever present references to other country artist and Southern towns, as if she really really wants you to know that she is a country artist, seriously. Feels Too polished and self-conscious. Instead of rounding up to 4, I have to round down to 3.

Lucinda Williams has an excellent reputation as a songwriter, and I remember lots of buzz when this album came out. I think the deeper cuts on the album are a bit better than the singles, but on the whole I was disappointed. Apple Music calls this "Rock" but it feels to me like country in denial. The lyrics were often compelling, but the compositions were just ok. Appropriate album title.

This was solid. I bet I would like it more, if I was from any of the dozen, southern towns she sings about. Imo, there is better stuff in this genre.

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.

Although it's sometimes dressed in the trappings of the country style I despise (overbearing southern accent and singing about sad shit), for the most part this is a highly tasteful, laid back album, with a vocal completely absent of any arrogance - it's just straight down the line story tellin' (Suzanne Vega comes to mind). I really appreciated the vibe of this, and I appreciated the often lovely melodies that don't rely on clichéd country progression but carve their own path. It's as good as Guitar Town, and nice to see Steve Earle is heavily involved here. Still doesn't come close to Nancy Griffiths, but this was a very pleasant surprise. I may even listen again.

Sheryl Crowe - similar.

soft, kinda soothing country music from the deep south. this album tries its hardest to transport you right to the rural areas of america, on a dingy little road trip. this album is fine. the lyrics are nice and the instrumentals are fine... i guess this is just an album that i have nothing to say about, and i didn't really feel any emotions listening to. these are songs alright, but they aren't really amazing. i guess it won a grammy.

Pretty good. I think I can add this to the list of “I never realized how influential Springsteen was until hearing this” records.

this was ok but just not really my thing :(

Good.

This sounds like Sheryl Crow without the fun hit singles. It grew on me as it went in though. A score of 3.5 because it was nice enough and I could bing it in again. But I don’t know if I ever will.

Very 90’s sounding in a good way and not surprising as released in 1998 - pleasant.

oh man, this hits home for sure. big fan of Steve Earle and Emmylou Harries, and I've seen all 3 of them on San Fran festival stages in the park early mornings. that whole scene of modern country incorporating more influences from other genres is represented here. its a fun record, even if you don't like country. she is a firecracker (with a song called Metal Firecracker) both lyrically and vocally. Right In Time is a basically a perfect opener, country aside. her style continues to be felt today even though you may have never heard of her. its simple and playful, stripped of pretention and judgement. I will say this would be something i listened to later in my life and have come to appreciate it more, def did not grow up liking these songs. but me and parents loved goin to see her live and listening to Drunken Angel having beers in the park. that grit of country living with the painful remorse of loss is a theme running throughout. its got that 90's feel as well that gives it that uniqueness from what came before and after. the debutante of country music is a memory of the past, Lucinda tells how its ugly as well as beautiful. its not for everyone, but the people within this scene agree that she is one of the greatest of all time. having seen her live, (18 years AFTER this record) she still has that spirit. its almost a 4/5 for how important to music it is and my personal connection, but truthfully, i prob wouldn't turn it on without other people. its clear that she loves music and puts out honestly. Joy is a banger. its music made for the live experience and the community that sprouts from it. "sometimes people just want to have fun." Jackson is slow and super country, a somber yet appropriate ending.

3.5

¿Por qué coño hacen los discos tan largos? Realmente está bien y suena todo muy bonito, pero esta mujer no tiene rango vocal para cantar tanto.

Real solid. Might put this back on

28/06/2025 Not really my thing, but it was listenable.

I saw alternative country and rolled my eyes. However, this ended up being more enjoyable than I anticipated. It leans into country, but not too far. Well done Lucinda.

I’m not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is a beautiful Americana album, not typically my style. Williams is clearly a great songwriter. Highlights are the opening Right on Time and the title track. At times it’s almost too clean and produced 7.1/10

Much like the sound of car wheels on a gravel road, this album is pleasant yet unspectacular.

Meh

J,aime pas tant les arrangements, mais certaine tounes sont bonnes. La premiere est d'ailleurs excellente.

Ça m'a pas trop dérangé mais j'vais jamais réécouter. Des bouttes j'ai l'impression qu'elle exagère un peu son drag en chantant. Un peu over-compressé dans l'ensemble. Y'a aissi des bruits de fond vraiment gossant des fois.

A note about (other people's) methodology: This isn't Ms Williams' first, or last, or best album. (on the last point, try Essence, for example). It is, though, the first album she made that got 'breakthrough' attention – reviews in the broadsheets, appearances on late night music programmes, etc. (These are UK reference points, I should point out. But since this list is subtly UK-centric, I think that's ok.) Equally important is that this album is from a time before streaming, where it was actually rather difficult to check out an album without, you know, buying it. (There's a lot to be said about how this may have influenced attachment to music, and the perceived disposability of much new music nowadays. This is a discussion for another time and place.) The point here is that it was possible to have a perception of an album without having engaged very closely with it. A reputation built on the amplified opinions of a few taste makers. (Another example, that ticks all the boxes above, is Yo La Tengo's Summer Sun) Anyway. This isn't the Lucinda Williams album I'll take with me to a desert island.

An album that I both feel like I like, and like I don't like it. Not sure what to think of it in the end. Weird thing. I think that it has potential to be a bit more, but it's not there. It's such a tricky thing to describe.

I liked this album when it came out, and I still find it easy to listen to. It does suffer from a bit of a mundane sameness quality, in that there are only a few tracks that stand out from the others. But I like her voice and the vibe overall.

Is it a good country album? I think that's undeniable. There's some really great songwriting, and a lot of catchy tunes that I was thinking about after the album was over. Is this one of the best country albums ever, let alone or of the best albums ever made? I'm not sure I would say that, I don't listen to a lot of country, but I really enjoy it as a mood, and I don't think that country was in a really good place creatively in 1998 when this came out if this made that huge of an impact on the genre, because ultimately outside of a few songs this sounds like a by the numbers country album. Not that there's really anything fundamentally wrong with that, if you like your country music to be catchy and very similar sounding this has that to offer, but I wouldn't go as far as to say this is anything too memorable. Maybe I'm being too harsh on it, if I ever get the urge to listen to this again I will, but I think this is pretty decent at best, and too reliant on country stereotypes to be interesting at worst

I thought this was reasonably good. I liked her voice more than others here seem to (she sounded a bit like Laura Marling on the first track).

For me, a lot of highs, and a lot of... Yeah that was just okay. Highlights include "2 Kool to be forgotten", "can't let go", "Jackson".

Sheryl Crow vibe

another folksy singer songwriter record!! how fun

It's not bad, just unexciting. It's not for me. Favorite song: can't let go.

01) Right in Time - 7,5 02) Car Wheels on a Gravel Road - 7,0 03) 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten - 7,0 04) Drunken Angel - 6,5 05) Concrete and Barbed Wire - 6,0 06) Lake Charles - 6,0 07) Can't Let Go - 7,0 08) I Lost It - 6,5 09) Metal Firecracker - 6,0 10) Greenville - 6,0 11) Still I Long for Your Kiss - 6,0 12) Joy - 6,0 13) Jackson - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,46 (65/100) Current ranking: 400/560

Chillig Love to imagine doing cartwheels on a gravel road Yee haw I fell asleep

Cleanly produced solid country singer-songwriter. There’s nothing wrong with this - but is it mind-blowing, nah.

Her voice gets on me sometimes but this is a pretty fun record. Think I listened to it before.

Итс окэй, приятная музыка, важные темы. Лучшая песня - Right in Time.

A few bangers, but plenty of whiny songs

it’s ok…

It was fine.

This was pretty nice. I wouldnt mind listening again. Strong 3 easily

I didn't know this singer. Pleasantly surprised. Nice vocal and lyrics. Overall good album.

genuinely the exact sort of longing i was doing this morning jesus christ. i found this really pleasantly surprising!! still i long..... for your kiss.........

Yeah will listen again to that number.

Prima singer-songwriter/country album. Sowieso ook wel eens fijn om een vrouw te horen in plaats van een britpop man. Mag ook wel eens! Het is zeker geen vervelend album, het is ook niet mn favoriete album. Word er niet wild van en dat ik zo baal dat ik dit album nu pas hoor, maar het album is meer dan prima genoeg. Ook wel fijn om weer een iets minder album van uiterste te hebben! De stem van Lucinda is echt dikke prima, de instrumenten klinken wel wat gedateerd, als je me had verteld dat dit uit de jaren 80 komt had ik je ook geloofd, maar dat is toch niet echt wat op de voorgrond staat hier. Af en toe een solo'tje en verder is het toch echt wel Lucinda die de aandacht pakt. Tsja, ik vind het gewoon wel prima, niet fantastisch maar heb zeker slechtere albums gehoord! FAVO: Right in Time, Can't let go, Metal firecracker, Joy

Pretty repetitive, but fun overall.

Just chill

3.5 I wasn’t thrilled to see back-to-back country albums on this list, especially after not feeling the tonk of Joe Ely’s so-called Masquerade at all, but this came as a bit of a surprise - this is MUCH more of what I want out of my country music. All of the extra BS found on Honky Tonk Masquerade is absent here, and you’re left with more of a stripped back, bare bones, straightforward country album. I mean, yes, the production is still very clean (perhaps cleaner than I would like at times, though shoutout to Steve Earle), and there's for sure a degree of pop sensibility, but something about Lucinda’s presentation feels very personal and vulnerable, which I think allowed me to grab onto this more than I normally would. And man, did I dig her voice - I think some people have a problem with it, but for me its imperfections added to the overall self-expressive charm. I liked just about every song here, but what ultimately holds me back from giving this a higher rating is the lack of variety for its length. As much as I would like to say it’s the kind of thing where the overall sound and vibe established is good enough for that not to matter, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t checking in on my progress somewhere around Metal Firecracker pretty consistently each time through. The best songs to be found here are definitely in the front half, though I was pretty happy to hear a cameo from my homegirl Emmylou Harris on Greenville, which very well may have saved this album from otherwise losing me around that point. Still, as someone who doesn’t claim to be the biggest fan of country music, I thought this was pretty good. Definitely something I’ll be revisiting again when I’m in the mood to feel like a heartbroken Southern woman.

I was dreading this album. The name and the cover implied some country-style rock that I don't really like. But it was actually pretty good. 3.5/5

It was fine.

6/10. While this album was revolutionary or particularly different to things I'd heard before, it was very pleasant. Easy listening which was relaxed albeit quite formulaic feeling and the vocals were nice with the classic American twang coming through. It did feel a bit drawn out and the slower bluesy basslines sort of blended into another but I did enjoy the closing track - it was a nice way to end the album. Overall, it was pleasant while it lasted but I probably won't be rushing back to this one which about where I'm placing a 6 on this scale.

Sounds like Sheryl Crow. Easy listen

3 stars

First off, great album cover, I really love how wholesome and nostalgic this cover is even though I’ve never been there. But with that out of the way the album didn’t blow me away, but I was super interested in the artist herself. It inspired me to look deeper into her as an artist as a whole and she seems like a super cool cat. My favorite songs on the album are drunken angel, 2 kool 2 be 4-gotten, and can’t let go. Honestly this album would probably be higher on my list if I could tolerate country for long periods of time. But this album was nearly a full hour long and that’s just a lot of country for me.

C o u n t r y. okurrrr.

Not too bad. Gets a little too twangy for me though.

3.5

[3.5]

This started out dreadfully boring, but I actually ended up liking it at the end. There are some really good songs on here with “Drunken Angel,” “Metal Firecracker,” and “Joy” being my favorites, along with “Can’t Let Go,” which reminds me of my best friend. It does drone at times and is a bit the same throughout, but there is also a good amount to enjoy here as well.

This was lovely. The raw sound of rural heartbreak and bitter disappointment. Think I need to check it out again

Correcto

Interesting Alt Country/Americana album. Highlights include Can't Let Go, Still I long For Your Kiss and Joy. Right in Time was also good.

Not for me but not terrible.

Pleasant, but not overly special. Love the album cover though. Kind of summarises this music well - cosy, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Less talk about killing your wife this time around, immediate improvement over ol’ Dwighty. I like this, some yodelling vibrato in there which I always like to hear. Every word in the title 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten actively makes me angry. Might rewrite ‘Lake Charles’ to be ‘he was from Waitrose’ and it’s about a posho at uni who won’t shut up about how much money they have. 2 songs added to my playlist, 5 added to the 1001

Maybe it's great songwriting but my uneducated self got bored.

Too country. A few decent songs in there.

Right In Time - 4/5 Car Wheels On A Gravel Road - 4/5 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten - 4/5 Drunken Angel - 4/5 Concrete And Barbed Wire - 2/5 Lake Charles - 3/5 Can't Let Go - 5/5 I Lost It - 3/5 Metal Firecracker - 3/5 Greenville - 3/5 Still I Long For Your Kiss - 2/5 Joy - 1/5 Jackson - 4/5 Average score: 3.2/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ country is a very hit-or-miss genre for me (i tend to like older country over modern). regardless, this was fairly standard for me. had some solid tracks, had some duds i will say, i like her as a vocalist. she sounds like a blend of Sheryl Crow and Liz Phair to me

A bit too country for me, but overall quite nice. 6/10

Lucinda straddles a very fine line between the personal, alt-country full of character and generic country-rock made for camper commercials. On the one hand, her voice is very distinct; on the other hand, the guitars and drums sound like they come right out of the cookie-cutter box; on the other other hand, the accordeon adds some unique flavour... etc.

No la había oído nunca y fue grata la dirpresa

Good album if going through a break-up. Enjoyed the music style, indie, blues, country vibes.

This is OK in parts. She has a good voice. But it's just really not my thing.

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road ist ein Album voller Authentizität und Tiefe. Es verbindet emotionalen Tiefgang mit musikalischer Finesse und bleibt auch über zwei Jahrzehnte nach seiner Veröffentlichung ein Referenzwerk im Americana-Genre. Ein absolutes Muss für Fans von ehrlicher und handgemachter Musik.

This is kinda nice alt-country, songer/songwriter stuff. Something about Lucinda Williams voice sounds intensely familiar, like I've been listening to her all my life, despite this being my first listen. William's delivery is so perfect that I almost believe her on "2 Kool 2 Be 4-gotten". This is one I'll keep coming back to every once in a while.

Decent 90s country/pop/rock

Ok. One of the most 90s albums I've ever heard. Made me want to drive a pickup in the Midwest with some bud heavies though. If you're not american I bet you hated this. Way too long though. 3 stars although probably more like 2.5

This grew on me. Like a cyst.

Låter faktiskt som ett album som är som bäst spelad i bilen då man kör på någon grusväg mitt i natten. Skön vibe

Chill country-folk-rock. Enjoyable when you're sitting outside in the lawn with a cup of summer wine. Unfortunately I'm never that kind of person, so it's just a 2.5-3/5 to me.

This was a pleasant enough blend of country and blues. I had never heard of her before and she has popped up on multiple lists - I can see that this is pretty influential on a lot of the current crop of singer-songwriter country folk stuff that is very popular, but I wasn't blow away by it.

Not bad but honestly all the songs just blended together to a point where it ended up being background music. I don't know much about americana/country but I know that this is way too slick for my taste. I had the feeling of being in a Parasuco tv ad.

Hey, that album wasn't that bad after all. Instead of being the over-produced country albums from the 80s/90s, it was more slacker filled with a natural and heartfelt sentiment than what I expected. Cool stuff!

Well it sure does sound country darlin'

She’s travel a lot of places looking for Joy. Don’t we all Lucinda… don’t we all!

Beginning of album sounded very Sheryl Crow but further in feels almost like a Janis Joplin meets Lilith Fair style.

It was nice but can't help thinking poor man's Sheryl crow

Had a couple decent songs, but isn’t for me.

If you were to walk into a dimly lit bar, order a beer, and someone where to have queued up a few songs of this on the jukebox, you’d feel right at home.

Pretty good sound

3/5

I don't care about the content of her lyrics, but they feel authentic. Her straining voice loses its impact over the 51 minutes of the album. The songs are different enough to not lose interest, the production is great, instruments all sound clean. I'm not scraping for more, but this wasn't bad. It's better than modern country for sure.

3.5/5

Woman's got pipes!

depressing, sad, small town folk country music. It has its place, its one of those albums where the cover art captures the mood pretty well. Maybe if I were in the headspace for it, I'd enjoy it more. its okay, nothing groundbreaking, but nothing really stands out either.

If you told me this was a Sheryl Crow album with no hits on it I’d believe you. Ok “Can’t Let Go” is pretty good. But it’s mostly just sad songs about people’s sad lives

Mellow, good instrumentation but a tad repetitive. Didnt strike anything in me per say. Best track - 2 cool 2 be 4 gotten

Some good, some not so good. Overall a pleasant folk album.

This album has a cool sound, but that sound is the same throughout the whole thing.

Fav: Can’t Let Go Least Fav: Concrete And Barbed Wire I’m so glad the second half was better, that first half had me truly bored

Interesting lyrically but didn’t blow my mind

Didn't really leave me with much of an impression.

Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Second country album that I had ever listened, and it's decent, it's a very chill-back, relaxed album where it talks mostly about relatable topics from love, and overall it's consistency is what saves it from not being good. I would've liked if the entire album had the same energy as "Drunken Angel", that was sounds really good. 1.- Right in Time = 8/10 2.- Car Wheels on a Gravel Road = 8/10 3.- 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten = 7/10 4.- Drunken Angel = 8/10 5.- Concrete and Barbed Wire = 7/10 6.- Lake Charles = 7/10 7.- Can't Let Go = 8/10 8.- I Lost It = 8/10 9.- Metal Firecracker =7/10 10.- Greenville = 6/10 11.- Still I Long for Your Kiss = 8/10 12.- Joy = 6/10 13.- Jackson = 7/10 FINAL SCORE = 7.3/10

Sehr seems cool, stimm isch weniger für mich. Vom Stil her chli zu wenig variiert für mich gschmack. Lyrisch defür super

Ok erste song aaaa wieso isch d stimm so luut was??? Tweite song zimli cool, gueti drums Boaah ich han echt grad chli müeh. Ha so 90 er scheiss eifach nöd gern. I mein s songwriting isch voll easy, nöd mega spannend aber okay. Gfallt mer eifach mega nöd wies tönt He weiss nöd es isch irgendwie guet aber es het mer hert nöd gfalle. Bi tempted es zwei geh

bro es het alles glöscht ehmm uf jede fall -coole ahfang, v.a. 2 cool 2 be 4gotten ha i gern gha (INSANE CRINGE TITEL) und s erste lied - iwie druckt sie ihri stimm mengisch chli z fest? -ja die restliche ⅔ hani extrem langwilig gfunde, greenville oder so hani GHASST das isch es so. so knapp lupfts de erst drittel uf es 3 aber würkli knäbbe

-ended up liking this so much more than I thought I would. It makes me wanna romanticize the hell out of America, even some place like Oklahoma -I love her voice so much, especially on Can’t Let Go which I’ve listened to like 1000 times. Some of the songs were a little less exciting but it was still pretty nice throughout -Favorites are Drunken Angel and Can’t Let Go

this is a low 3, almost a 2, not that i think this is bad but it is not my style at all, however i recognize that a lot of the songs were actually objectively not bad, but it is a low 3 for me personally

Pre-listening thoughts: country but woman! Maybe it’ll be okay Post/during listening thoughts: yeah this is good. It’s country so it’s not my favorite but there are some good moments on here. I did find myself getting into this more than I thought I would. Women just do it better sorry. 6.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Right In Time, Lake Charles, Can’t Let Go, Jackson Least fav tracks: None

🤠

I can't say I have any memory of his album or artist, reading the Wiki sounds like it was a big deal it just never really made it to the UK I guess. I get Meredith Brooks vibes from it. At the start I didn't think I would enjoy this record but it turns out I was wrong. Stand out tracks: - Car wheels on a gravel road - 2 Kool 2 be 4-gotten - Note I do not like the way this is written! - Concrete and barbed wire - Lake Charles - Can't let go - I lost it - Still I long for your kiss - Jackson

I didn’t hate it!

Favorite Track: Lake Charles

Fine. Not bad. Feels a little dated.

Listed on Apple as Rock but clearly country. This album cover is awesome too, reminds me of deer camp. I really enjoyed this album! I enjoyed the country elements and it fusing with rock. Glad this was on the list, especially in these final weeks as I'm hoping for more American albums I haven't heard before.

Country selected for this list is so hit or miss, and this one's right in between for me. Not good enough that I think it should be here, but not bad enough that I disliked it. A couple good songs, the rest just forgettable. I'd remove it from the list, but it's decent enough. Just a strange pick. Favorite tracks: Right in Time, Can't Let Go, Joy. Album art: Picture of a house with, yep, you guessed it, a gravel road or driveway leading up to it. Looks very DIY, not necessarily a bad thing. The font being a little jumbled is cool. 3/5

Overwhelmingly average in an incredible way. Very transportive to the scenes she conjures up in each and every song. If you start the other way by viewing just the scene, surely these songs are what is playing in the back 3.5/5

Favorite Track: Concrete And Barbed Wire

fucking LOOONG….. country liz phair (and too country for me). honk shoo highlights: car wheels on a gravel road, can’t let go, jackson (jan 11 2025)

Quality akt-country Americana. Brilliant voice.

Pretty classic Americana/roots. Her voice does get a little bit annoying after a while.

I'm not really a fan, but I can see how this has aspects of experimenting with Country music that lead to its current revival decades later.

Dit doet me denken aan iets anders, maar ik kan er niet helemaal de vinger op leggen. Waarschijnlijk gewoon Ilse de Lange ofzo, die zal haar trucje vast hiervan hebben afgekeken. En ons Shania natuurlijk. Ik kan niet zeggen dat ik hier enorm van kan genieten. Het is gewoon niet mijn muziek. De productie is wel super en klinkt lekker vol, wat toch een punt kan schelen. Ik schat in dat dit zich verhoudt tot country zoals Nickelback zich verhoudt tot hardrock. Ik kan hier wel een 3 voor geven. Je doet me hier in principe geen plezier mee, maar mocht het aanstaan terwijl ik toevallig bij de Longhorn veertien kilo spareribs met een grote emmer bier ernaast zit te inhaleren dan bedank ik God waarschijnlijk op m'n blote knietjes omdat ik zal beseffen dat het allemaal een stuk erger kan.

It's pretty good but not really my thing.

Pretty nice country music.

Tíundatugarcountry, fín rödd, ágætt band, mellem lög. Má alveg ganga í bakgrunni fyrir mér.

This was a nice easy listen - like Alanis Morissette on Prozac or something. Her voice is good, but not the most striking we've had, the music is nice but unremarkable, as are the stories. A low to middling 3.

this album felt long but didn’t sound too bad

Decent songs probably won’t revisit

2 kool 4 me. 3.

I had never heard any songs on this album, but I typically like alt country and this was no different. Enjoyed listening.

Aika hyvä kantripoppislevy. 3.5/5, mut ei ehkä ihan nelonen.

A pleasant listen late in the evening, but not something I'm going to seek out again

Didn't mind it at all.

A good solid alt-country rock album from Lucinda Williams that shows that you don't have to love country to enjoy her music. I can see the similarities in vocal styles to someone like Canadian, Kathleen Edwards, who clearly is influenced by her music. The songs are all fine and though Williams isn't the most consistent artist, I would consider, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, one of the highlights of her career.

can't rate it any higher

This was actually so nice ! 3.5 Favs: Car wheels on a gravel road Drunken Angel I lost it Joy

A gorgeous album, I loved the 90s twist on country - a lovely album for autumn - 3.5/5 Standout tracks: - Right in time 4/5 - Car wheels on a gravel road 4/5 - Jackson 4/5

Slightly above average

An interesting listen - an amalgamation of Leeann Rhimes and Alanis Morrisette with a sprinkling of Suzanne Vega - what is not to like

Personally like her earlier stuff a little better. This album sounds a bit more polished. It's good but nothing to get overly excited about it.

This record is hit or miss. The good songs (hits) work well with talented musicians and Williams’ twangy, slightly drunk sounding vocals. The misses are tortuous (Joy).

This was alright. Not sure i'd listen to it again.

I found this to be perfectly forgettable background music. I thought I was listening to Sheryl Crow at one point, until. And then when this album was over, Sheryl Crow was the first artist that came on afterwards based on sonic sounds. There's nothing wrong here, her voice is pleasant enough, the music is fine. But nothing is compelling me to run back and listen again, either.

Lucinda ... I don't know how to rate this. Was I more charmed by your accent than the music? Probably. It was pretty repetitive, but I enjoyed the music. 2.5

I loved so much of this. She has such an interesting voice and the instrumentation was varied and surprising at times. Title track and Joy are two of the most annoying songs we’ve encountered

that voice!

expected worse, was pretty decent folk coutry rock, nothing special but enjoyable.

Nothing wrong with it, but not much of a country fan.

I've owned this album in the past. I like a lot of the album and she's a solid songwriter, but the best song is her cover version of Don't Let Go. I did notice that just about every song is about a breakup or an ex-lover and lists 2-3 different cities. "I take off my watch and my earrings My bracelets and everything Lie on my back and moan at the ceiling Oh my baby"

Did I enjoy this? Do I like country music? Honestly I don't really know. Drunken Angel has been in my rotation for some time, but its probably still my favourite track from the album. Fave Tracks: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Drunken Angel, Joy 3.3/5

Enjoyable album, it aged very well.

The song title "2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten" reminds me of the Weird Al line from Word Crimes: "You should never write words using numbers, unless you're seven, or your name is Prince." I'd describe the overall album as slacker country/blues. Not bad, but nothing I'd seek out again. Favorite tracks: Drunken Angel (reminds me of Tom Petty), Can't Let Go (fun track).

frekar gott útlaga/alt köntrí. gef þessu aðra. 3,5.

Quite a long album so didn't finish but very enjoyable and added to the return to list.

Fine. Not my favorite genre, but was pleasant enough.

I feel like knowing the context of how influential this album has been for a lot of my favorite modern indie acts gives this a higher rating. It's great Americana, but 25 years on it sounds a whole lot like a whole lot of other stuff, which is probably a testament to its influence. This isn't typically my style of music, but I can appreciate it for what it is, and that is heartfelt country music.

Fine.

I enjoyed this more than expected, some solid songs on here. 3.5

Dry, dusty, intriguing

Fine for what it was but not sure why this is a noteworthy album

This was fine.

This started out decent but I couldn't stand to hear her voice by the end of it. Stand-out: Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

Better than I thought it'd be.

Een countrymiep met een verkoudheid. Leuk hoor, maar wat is er bijzonder aan? Dan hoor ik net zo lief Ilse de Lange.

Om de term maar even te lenen. We komen nog wel eens een 'vergeetbare 3' tegen in deze lijst. Niet slecht, maar niet echt interessant. Je zou het bijna vergeten, maar in de jaren 90 viel er een compleet genre onder de noemer 'vergeetbare 3'. Amerikaanse rustige singer-song-writer dames. Net geen country, net geen rock. Net niets. Er zijn tientallen bekende voorbeelden van, maar die ben ik natuurlijk allemaal vergeten. In 1998 was dit genre gelukkig redelijk aan het uitsterven. Blijkbaar heeft ene Lucinda toen toch nog eens zo'n plaatje opgenomen. Helemaal niet slecht hoor. Ook helemaal niet vernieuwend en zeker niet bijzonder. Een middenmotor binnen dit genre van de vergeetbare 3.

Leuke americana op zich, maar ik zie niet zoveel wat dit (toen al) toevoegde aan de 90s rush aan vrouwelijke singer songwriters a la Sheryl Crow etc etc. Ze was (toen al) een boomer in tegenstelling tot haar jongere concullega's, die het landschap domineerden. Ze brak blijkbaar pas met dit album door, maar dat was gewoon omdat ze toen pas eindelijk kon meeliften op het succes van de jongere generatie vermoed ik. Uitwisbaar, vergeetbaar, een karige 3.

It’s a pretty decent country-rock album, but not my thing.

I liked "Can't Let Go" a lot and found some of the other songs kind of pretty and nice, but most of this album was boring.

Some nice country bangers

Started with an open mind, ended with an open mouth. Yawn!

Nice relaxed country pop vibes