Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Not great. Kinda sounds like Sheryl Crow if she was more country and also wasn’t a good musician.
This was just dull. I don't expect interesting musicianship on a country record but I do expect decent vocals and I just didn't find them here.
Review - The songwriting is objectively pretty good but it's slicker than I like Americana and poppier than I like country. Rating - 3.5/10 Need to hear? NO
It just sort of bobs along like a country album does, not entirely shit but not terribly engaging. I guess to some this is a great album but to me, about 12 hours after listening to it, there’s nothing memorable about it.
country albums are not always my thing, i like more modern country more but probably good for its time
Peter and Quagmires last country album when noone would listen anymore.
A somewhat average singer-songwriter folk album, with a generous dash of country mixed in. Now, of course, that's a property that sets it apart from the rest of somewhat average singer-songwriter folk albums, but it's still country, so in the end I'd say does more harm than good. 2.5/5
This was really boring
Quite mellow but nice background music nevertheless.
I don't care for country music. This is fine, but I can't get through it.
There's a Sheryl Crow-like inflection in her voice that I just don't get.
Some songs are catchy, but some songs are downright insufferable. Most feel like they run too long.
There’s some good songwriting on display here, but all together it added up to a dreary mid-tempo listen which never got me out of the slump it put me into. I was very bored of hearing about her ex by the end!
Not seeing the appeal here. Comes across to me as a fairly mediocre country album.
Never heard of this before but it sounds like Lucinda may have taken some influence from Shania Twain and the poppier edges of country music at the time. Having not heard her previous output it’s hard to know who influenced who but this album feels far from essential.
Album oubliable et neutre de modern country numéro 12389748923
Americana / Alternative Country. Not really my style of music, but I've heard worse. Couldn't make up my mind about the title track - I liked the music, but as on other tracks her voice annoyed me.
2.5 - Meh
Not a fan of this album. As critically acclaimed as it is, the production has a weird dynamic thing going on, the lyrical content and style is kind of annoying, and I just am not a fan of the sound of William's voice I guess. 2/5
Boring Sheryl Crow-core 2/5
Not a country fan.
It's probably in the nature of things that not all songwriters are brilliant singers. In my opinion, however, that's no reason for so many singer-songwriters to ruin their songs with extremely restrained, thin, and whiny vocals—especially when they subsequently show that they're actually quite good singers. As a result, the opening track “Right in Time” starts off rather off-putting for my taste—it sounds a bit like Soul Asylum, but without any edge. Since Lucinda Williams definitely doesn't lack talent, she's probably just striving for a sound ideal that I don't share. “Car Wheels On A Gravel Road” is therefore actually a good album, but one that I don't particularly like.
Nah, not really my jam
Sounds like a parody of country…
She sounds like someone. Can't think who. About as entertaining as the title suggests but not unpleasant.
Not terrible but it is middle of the road stuff. Pretty boring stuff. 2/5.
2.1 The first 3 songs or so are not terrible. Then it just turns out to shite country. The vocal style in Concrete.. sounds like nails on a chalk board to me. Country is one of America's worst exports, and they've inflicted some pretty terrible atrocities on the world. Please make it stop. 200 albums to go, surely there can't be many more country ones left.
Perfect for falling asleep on a plane to. I won't go back to the ones I slept through.
Not my jam.
Fin countrymusikk, typisk sånn at jeg sikkert facineres veldig hivs jeg hører tett mange ganger etter hverandre. Men totalt sett ved gjennomhøring er det liksom helt okei, så det blir 2 stjerner
Okay starts off kinda country dull slop. lyrics a bit descriptive. This just sounds a bit try hard. The vocals seem like an affectation. Overall its just dull.
Country flavoured singer/songwriter pop with no outstanding qualities. On a 50 minute album as well. I was extremely borde listening to this. By track 4 I thought I was halfway through. It turned out I wasn’t. Not unpleasant though, so an extra star for that.
90s female singer songwriter but make it vaguely country. This was fine. The titular song was maybe the worst. Repetitive and boring.
The more country tunes were just alright IMO (background music at best). I liked the more rockin songs. Cant Let Go and I Lost It were my favorites. Not noteworthy, but not terrible
Quite dull and unimpressive.
Pretty unremarkable country right here.
ok, nice voice, but pretty boring country arrangments
This feels like a parody album at times. ChatGPT, make an American country album...
95/1089 Started off kinda well, i liked the first track and the next few were nice, if not my faves. Then Concrete and Barbed Wire comes along and immediately takes me out of it completely. The overly-affected southern accent was so off-putting and the vibe was killed for me so i liked the first song and last song (Right in Time and Jackson) otherwise all the songs blended together and were really not for me 2 stars 24/100
This just really wasnt my thing.
I'm a little torn here, cause this is a case of some good artistry and craftsmanship that just isn't my thing. I appreciate it, but it's just not something I think I'd ever reach for.
Found this a bit dull - not for me
At this point you’ve really got to question what the criteria for getting on this list is. This sounds like a poorer version of early 90s Sheryl Crow and any album that has a track titled “2 kool 2 Be 4-Gotten” needs to get in the bin.
No standouts
Dull
Voice sounds scratchy, music is fine, not fan of the voice
No entiendo porqué este álbum está en la lista. Extremádamente genérico y poco inspirado. Ni la voz ni la música tienen algo especial. Me da lástima decirlo porque tampoco creo que sea un mal álbum, musical y técnicamente hablando está bien, pero es demasiado tibio. Tal vez es simplemente una estética que no entiendo, pero a grandes rasgos me pareció un álbum irrelevante.
Sometimes boring, sometimes quite nice. Some songs sound like an off-brand country version of PJ Harvey. I really thought this was going to be some lofi indie based on the cover and name tbh. Title track is probably the worst song on this album, I think drunken angel might've been my favorite? Idk
Intro had me ready for Mary Chapin Carpenter. This fell short.
Americana is not my thing. I'm conflicted cuz they mention a lot of places I grew up near, but it's really not my thing.
General thoughts: Most songs go full country cliche, same with the lyrics. There are a couple of songs that add a spice of pop, or folk, or even a kinda christian-music tune. First two songs actually made me think this could be actually decent only to nosedive completely. I'm more of a Johnny Cash kind of Country, never been into the more recent developments of the genre. Boring to the core. Outstanding song(s): Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Worst song(s): Particularly- Concreate and Barbed Wire Cover: Simple but it expresses the general feeling of the album Real rating: 1.80
2 hours of country? FFS.... Overdriven Telcasters and a twangy voice. Hank Marvin references, lots of clichés. Its albums like this that make me appreciative of the good things I have in my life. Honestly sounds like a version of Sheryl Crow that I don't particularly like. Musically its great tho, just too derivative and generic.
Boring, late-90s singer-songwriter chick rock with a country flair.
Other than the track "Joy", I definitely didn't hate it, but this did absolutely nothing for me. I'm not the target audience for this, and that's ok. Definitely competent for what it is.
Everyone involved with this record seems bored. The band is basically sleep walking through every song. Her voice is nice but she doesn’t stretch it or do anything interesting with it.
I don't like Country Music. This is no exception.
Its Ok. But essentially if you give me an album with songs of Shania Twain, Lucinda and Sherryl Crow and tell me to name whoch song is who's, I will fail miserably
Country
This album cover is vaguely familiar. I think I may have seen it around before, though I’m confident I’ve never heard a Lucinda Williams song. Guess I have nothing else to do but get into this album. Yup, country. About what I was expecting. That, or midwest emo. This album is a good enough time. Very easygoing and stripped back, though there isn’t too much going on under the hood. Williams is a decent vocalist and the instrumentals are competent across the board, yet there’s something deeply stale and “rigid” about this music which fails to resonate much with me. On to the music. “2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten" is an insane title for a country song, but it isn’t half bad. I like the guitars in the background, and Williams’ vocals are pretty alright. Very dreamy – I like em. “Drunken Angel” has a very 90s vocal style, though I’m not complaining. The instrumental isn’t good too, especially around the chorus. “Joy” is a fun song. I dig the songwriting and vocals. Checking the book for why this is in here. “... as flawless a work of songcraft and record production as has appeared in the last ten years.” Biiiiiiiig call. An album that gets better with repeat listens. Consulting Wikipedia reveals that this album is massively acclaimed, decently successful and won a Grammy. Hmm. Not convinced by this inclusion. I think I’ll give it the snub. In place of this album, I humbly submit The Magnolia Electric Co. by Songs: Ohia. A good example of a modern, kickass country album
#DÍA 28: 1001 Discos Que Hay Que Escuchar Antes De Morir (English Translation Below) Vaya, porras, otro álbum de Country. He intentado escuchar este de un modo más optimista dado que se trata de una mujer en los 90s, así que pensé que podría ser más atrevido de lo que he escuchado dentro del género. Lucinda Williams presenta aquí una serie de canciones de Country Alternativo y de Americana que, aún pecando estilísticamente de ser algo monótonas, son salvables, principalmente por el enfoque personal que da en gran parte del LP. Algo que espero escuchar en un proyecto de country es que el artista aporte su visión, sus vivencias, sus sentimientos, a partir de narraciones basadas en la cultura rural y los paisajes de su país, algo que en ocasiones termina cayendo en estereotipos y con poca profundidad emocional, pero bien hecho puede ser fantástico (Véase mi reseña de Hejira de Joni Mitchell). En el tema de apertura Lucinda canta con bastante sinceridad acerca de su sexualidad, con un acompañamiento de Country Rock sólido que da un inicio bastante decente y prometedor líricamente al álbum. Algo que se mantiene en la siguiente pista, la canción homónima, que trata sobre los paralelismos que la cantante encuentra entre su vida actual y los recuerdos de su infancia, viajando de un lugar pobre a otro en coche. 2 Kool 2 be 4-Gotten es un buen homenaje a un local de música del que Lucinda guardaba fotografías, llegas a sentirte algo nostálgico por el lugar. Las letras con contenidos interesantes se mantienen presentes, como el recuerdo de un viejo amante en Lake Charles o la reflexión acerca del deseo de encontrarte con aquel que extrañas en Concrete and Barbed Wire. En sí la primera mitad del LP es bastante sólida, pero en la segunda mitad comienza a flojear mucho en las letras y las instrumentales no mejoran. Parece perder la personalidad progresivamente, con canciones cuyas letras se alejan más y más de las vivencias personales para simplemente expresar sentimientos comunes en los que toda la audiencia pueda verse reflejada. Ejemplos de ello son Still I Long for Your Kiss o Joy, que empiezan a ser ya demasiado repetitivas estéticamente también. Acaba cayendo en los estereotipos que me temo en la canción Jackson, la cual en concepto puede parecer interesante —ilustrar el proceso de pasar por una ruptura a lo largo de un viaje— pero termina siendo sólo una canción que hace poco más que simplemente nombrar lugares para romantizarlos de forma barata. Es respetable, termina bastante mal para mi gusto pero tampoco es un álbum que me ofenda o que no pueda escuchar. Es interesante leer las vivencias de Lucinda Williams pero hasta ahí empieza y termina mi interés real por este disco. También es un género de música con el que suelo conectar más bien poco por ahora, siento ser tan despectivo con el mismo pero es que no puedo parar de pensar en lo ridículas que serían las letras si se cambiasen los nombres por lugares de España… Albacete, Robregordo, Ibeas de Juarros… En fin. Favoritas: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, 2 Kool 2 be 4-Gotten Menos favorita: Jackson
The music equivalent of a plate of beige food
I'm not one to have the mindset "all country music sucks" but this certainly makes me feel otherwise. It's only saving grace is that I've heard worse. 2 Kool
Mum, can we get Sheryl Crowe? No, we have Sheryl Crowe at home.
Nu uh
A western crashout
Uninspiring and dull. I didn't like her voice, although some of the music wasn't too awful. Two stars.
Though charming at first I found her to be a little grating towards the end. The mix felt a tad weak somehow?
YAY A WOMAN! I have had to do a little bit of research into this album, a I'm aware there's some lore behind this, and wanted to be somewhat clued up before reviewing. Aside from the often deeply dark lyrics, Williams’ voice is reminiscent of Dylan’s. It’s beautifully flawed, she doesn’t have a huge range, although she does have plenty of power to call on when needed. Personally what really did stand out to me when listening to this album, is the emotional journeys that Williams manages to portray with a series of stunning songs. (I love a storytelling album). Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the standout of this album, is the strength and beauty of Lucinda Williams lyrics as she conjures up the imagery of life along those dusty, two-lane southern country highways. I enjoyed ! I love women ! - 3/5 - HF xo New album day shows a very southern, country esc vibe to it. Lyrically this album does well to tell a story, though Williams vocal range is limited, it's exactly how it needs to be to tell the emotional tales it does. Whether it's the sense of longing in Right in Time, Concrete and Barbed Wires speaking of life's many painful obstacles in many forms and Can't Let Go about hanging onto a failed relationship unable to actually let it go (oh look at me relating to that, kill me). One of my personal favourites is Drunken Angel, speaking of the life of Blaze Foley, a musician who I enjoy quite a bit who died quite tragically. Overall this album has a great sound to it, whether it be almost pillow soft acoustic guitar chords or ripping slide guitar backed by tight sounding drumlines, I'd happily give this album another go around. 2.8/5 MTW
Not bad, considering I don't really like country. 2*, since I'm never going to listen to this again.
Pretty bland. Listenable, but bland.
You know, I was ready to dismiss this album as modern country trash. Then I heard the first song and thought that I might actually enjoy this album. But then, somehow it got worse as it progressed and I now just dismiss it as modern country trash. The songs, god, how many of them does Lucinda just repeat the title over and over again? And Lucinda is borderline monotone on some of these songs. There are shades of a good album here, hence why it gets spared from a one-star. But all that’s here is just mediocre. Favorite track: Right In Time Other hits: I Lost It
Is this all the same song over again?
Sounds like KT Tunstell. Lol or Sheryl Crow. She’s cool tho- I liked it
Sounds about two or three years past the prime years for this kind of sound, so not sure why it's on this list. It's decent for the style of Americana folkish rock, though. I'm just glad it's not all country, as the name kind of suggested. Just near country, somewhere along the spectrum between Tom Petty and Dolly Parton. 2/5
I am not in the mood for this one. To follow Emerson, Lake, and Palmer with this is a travesty. I actually did not like this at any point in the album. I was happy when it ended. I didn't like the boring music, or her voice. I found myself getting more anxious as the album went on. I kept checking to see when it was going to be over, and I was disappointed every time until it was finally over. Lyrics were well written, so that will take this to a 2. Sorry, it just wasn't for me, and not on this day.
basic and boring
I guess this is country pop? Mellow sounding and a bit bland.
It’s not bad but it’s not great. Kind of reminds me of the sort of CD npr would send you as a thank you to donating.
Pretty basic country songs. Not as bad as some reviews are making out, but hardly exciting enough to make the list either in my opinion.
Hræðilegt
Good country twang, but became fairly monotonous.
Not being a fan of country, it's a bit too twangy for me, too much Americana. In spite of that, I feel like this is a more accessible country record that others in this list, like Steve Earle's Guitar Town (who is a producer here). The record also feels a bit flat, like it never really turns the energy up from the slow Americana ballad. Her songwriting is very good though, she's a good storyteller. Her lyrics feel personal and her singing makes it feel more emotional. "Lake Charles" is the best example of this, as Williams sings about the death of her ex. Musically, the best for me was "Still I Long For Your Kiss", which was a bit more lively and has a fun guitar solo.
Overall: 4/10 While there are some good moments on here, I found it pretty underwhelming overall. The big highlight is the lyrics. I think if the instrumentals were better I'd enjoy this more but I found them bland, especially the drums. Not for me. Fav Song: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten (what a dumb 90s name) Least Fav Song: Greenville
Basically a taste of what would become the downfall of country music
I’m not averse to a bit of Americana and I initially had high hopes for this album - songs like the title track and one called Barbed Wire and Concrete have a gritty, Springsteen-esque feel to them. However, the reality fell somewhat short - it’s fairly by the numbers alt-country stuff, with barely a fiddle or banjo to be heard. There’s also a car crash of a production process detailed on the wiki page, with 90% of the songs being scrapped and a falling out with her long time producer.
This sounds like very cliché American country music. And it is pretty forgettable, nothing is really outstanding here. Doesn't hate it but this is boring.
7/1001. Many of my friends have said that recently they listen to mostly country music. Well screw them! ;) Ok, jokes aside. As a matter of fact I do own one Lucinda Williams cd, her voice is great and songs are simple enough. But thats maybe the problem - too simple songs – for me nothing really stands out here, and to call this album a masterpiece, or that it should be included in the list of albums one should hear before they die is just too much for my musical taste. Mellow and smooth and sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but hey, so are millions of other albums as well. Blame me for not understanding country & western and I'll go drink one for you. When I get to Inari I don't think I miss this record that much. Or even remember any of its songs.
It was fine, but nothing I’ll ever think about again.
Lethargic, dull, uninspired. She sounds drunk and half asleep. The lyrics are the caliber you'd expect from an amateur at an open mic night on a Tuesday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A low-rent Sheryl Crow, at least she sounds like a real person and not a 50-foot tall pop monstrosity, but that's the most praise I can give.
This is an album I really want to like and have tried many times to enjoy, the title track is really good, the production and feel of the album are great but the songs themselves leave me flat.
Pretty generic country pop. There's nothing that would make me spin this one again.
On folk/country/rock category thai album is easy listening. Still slightly boring
I really didn’t care for this. It felt like Courtney Love mixed with Sheryl Crow, but lacking the talent of both. I did like “Joy” so I saved that one for my playlist.
Yesterday I got Waylon Jennings album and thought “hey, maybe i was wrong about country all along”. I wasn’t. Not my genre
This is well made, but it just seems somewhat average. Not something that will really stick with me. Something I likely wouldn’t notice being on at a bar. The backing instrumentals were good. My favorite songs were Drunken Angel and Can’t Let Go.
some very good songs but overall not very exciting
I thought this was okay, the last song was the best, but it was all quite samey.
Boring. That is all
Car wheels on a gravel road.. off the side of a cliff.
Could not cet into it
Sad story: British man forced to listen to country music. Not bad but did not like.
Concrete and borbdwarr
Whatever? Not really that impressive to be honest
..
I started to type something snarky like. "Where else would the car wheels be?" But then I remembered that cars do better on asphalt.
It's forgettable country
Shite, twee country bollocks.
I recognized two songs on here probably from radio play back in the day. I wanted to like it more but her vocals really left something to be desired.
Meh.
Ja....
De los típicos ''chabona le canta a la ruta'' esta es la más rescatable... y eso es mucho decir porque igual no me gustó mucho. Nota: 2.6
Not the best country/folk album. Found it boring and annoying at times. Would not like to return to it.
Garbage alternate country. Couldn't imagine a scenario where I'd want to listen to this. Not backpacking, not riding a horse, not driving down a dirt road in a pickup truck, and certainly not doing anything else where I wouldn't want my day ruined. Only thing keeping it from a 1 Star is how truly awful some other albums are.
More country, class. I think I did genuinely like about 15% of this, there were bits of songs that were more indie than country where Lucinda's voice suited the song. By and large though, usual tropes, some very obvious rhymes and just a generally well trodden sound.
Never heard of Lucinda and I was worried when I saw it was country... However, I will say this perhaps had a bit more to it than some of the country we've had. Don't get me wrong, there were large parts of it that were really unimaginative and dull, but there was the odd bit that wasn't too bad..... Perhaps I've just been watching too much Yellowstone?
Country with a tinge of 90's indie rock. This was fine, but there is a good reason I've never heard of this.
ээ ну это звучит как оно и ожидается, как современный кантри альбом, хз, может для американцев, которые в целом любят кантри и хотят продолжение жанра это ок, но мне ваще побоку. голос реально звучит странно, не в миксе как будто да и иногда не очень звучит хорошо по нотам… везде одинаковые соло, и барабанные сбивки, блин ее голос бы хорошо подошел для какого то альтернативного рока… 3 песня даже более менее, дранкен ангел тоже прик пока не появляется гармошка. она конечно дает вайба алекса жи, но все еще вайб кантри
Belanglos. Ich bleibe bei Sheryl Crow because it makes me happy :)
Absolutely fine Not my thing Not a genre I like But good voice, okay songs. Fine
Very country. Her voice is pretty nice. The first few tracks were not catching my interest. Can’t let go and I Lost It were more my speed. I appreciate this for what it is, but not my genre
2.5
Det var ok men inte mycket mer, gillar de mer "swamp-rockiga" bitarna mer än det som var mer country typ. Nice gitarrsound. 2 av 5.
I don't know how many people worked on the 1001 albums list, but as an individual, if you asked me to name the top 1001 of anything I'd struggle. Sure, I could compile the list, but the further I'd get from my all-time favourites, the more I'd have less of a strong opinion, to a point of almost indifference. That's what "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road" feels like: One of the albums sitting at the bottom of the pile, shoveled in purely because it was to hand and the editors fairly enjoyed at least most of it. If an attempt at objectivity, surely there must be better country albums? The whole way through, the album sits in the middle-of-the-(gravel)-road by a deviation of picometres. Nothing terrible, nothing good. Bland.
A couple of good tunes choked within a swatch of mediocre songs. 2/5
On first play, what boring pap, util you get to "Joy". What a great track. Brilliant five star. Shame the singer can't sing. If fact she sounds bored to death singing that boring pap. Def time for some singing lessons. And some enthusiasm. And mibbie a new songwriter. After a few more plays, some of it is growing on me, slightly. Still boring pap, but acceptable boring pap. And she still needs singing lessons.
1.6 1x
Слушал 3 часа назад и уже забыл о чем это
2+
Not great
It's not bad per se, but I don't really get how it's considered to be different from the countless country stuff out there.
I feel like I don't love America enough to enjoy this album properly.
Not offensive in any way. Just kind of boring. Might take a random song here or there, but a whole album just blends together
Not ultra unique and does not veer far from safety. Some songs were nice enough but many were repetitive. Not a very engaging listen. 2/5
Giving this a two because I swear the title song put me into a fugue state where I just heard the title chorus over and over for 15 minutes
Sheryl Crow but more boring
Nah mid
Nahhhhhhhhhhhh
Pas si désagréable en background, mais insupportable dès que tu commence à écouter pour vrai
It's country but with the most boring and basic lyrics imaginable!
To each their own I suppose, but this kind of country vocal is rough for me to get through. I do like the title track I guess. I know of Lucinda Williams but ...after a few songs though I'm thinking is she not just a shitty singer? I don't even like the songs... Eh - not my most eloquent review but it's cold and i'm tired and this is just not good at all. The weak effort on the album cover and title are actually perfect. 3/10 2 stars.
1.7
Joy is a jam
Nothing bad just ain’t for me
Gorgeous voice
generic country with a clear decline in song and lyric quality as the album went on
This seemed to be a really long album because the songs were too repetitive and slow, and too mellow for my taste. There was nothing interesting going on. Country folk is really not my cup of tea.
not a bad album just a bit boring to me
Really surprised how this could be so up my alley but so not interesting...
No es para mi
This walked the line of not quite too country for me to listen to for a while, but fell off about halfway through. I’m sure it’s influential but it’s not for me
I listened to this two or three times, not because I loved it, but because I was sure there was something worthwhile there that I was missing. After multiple listens I am pretty sure that my first impressions were correct: this is a fairly standard country music singer-songwriter. It's absolutely fine but undistinguished. I suppose it's not really the sort of thing I usually listen to, but I'm not sure if just being a representative of basic country music qualifies this as being an album I have to listen to before I die. I think I could have died happy without hearing this. Drunken Angel is the best track, feels like it's real, and the jarring juxtaposition of the two title words is a good summary of the whole song.
It started off pop and veered into country pretty fast. Eh, doesn't do much for me. Her voice is kind of grating and drunk sounding. I do enjoy some of the guitar work.
I'd expect to like this a lot more than I do.
Alright
When I started this project a friend told me his theory that people mostly like music associated with happy memories. This album debunks that for me because it does remind me of it playing at a beloved former workplace but I still don’t really like it.
Americana through and through with a tangy kinda of gets annoying voice… 2 kool 2 be 4-gotten is funny and so is concrete and barbed wire. Lots to be forgotten tho…
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is one of those albums that feels perfectly fine but doesn’t quite break through. Listening to it, I can appreciate the music and Lucinda Williams’ voice—both are well-executed and undeniably pleasant. Still, the album feels almost like background noise, something I could enjoy more as part of a film soundtrack than as a standalone listen. There’s a subtlety to Williams’ work here that might be impactful in the right setting, yet, track by track, everything blends together into a sort of “nice, whatever” vibe. The songs are consistent in tone and quality but maybe a bit too consistent, to the point where it’s hard to pick one that really stands out or sticks. It’s not that anything is lacking per se; it’s just that the album as a whole never quite grabs my attention or pulls me in. Standout Song: None, really; they all feel like parts of the same backdrop. Score: 2/5
Feels more like it's on the country side of Americana, this album reeks of that 90s aesthetic, but lacks anything that makes those other albums, such as the Silver Jews, interesting. Just feels like a more tired version of what you'd hear on folk radio, and barely ever did Lucinda Williams' performance feel genuine enough to pull at any heart strings.
There's nothing on this to keep my interest. Which is sad, since I usually like Americana. 2/5
Modern country…
Not great to be honest. Voice is uninteresting, musicianship is straightforward as is the lyricism. One of many artists in exactly the same vane who churn out pretty standard stuff just like this.
Not for me
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road is fine, not the best middle of the road country we've had, not the worst, a decent voice and production, just not really memorable enough to want to listen again. It's like if beige picked up a guitar and moved to Louisiana. A high 2/low 3 sort of effort.
Not my sort of thing. Her whiny voice was starting to annoy me by the end of the album.
Inoffensively boring. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5
Vähän tasapaksu ja kiusallisen Alanis Morriseten kaltainen 2/5
Baffling choice for this list, nothing at all remarkable about this. Singing in a very affected voice does grate after a while 2*
From the 16 tracks I liked 5...That is not so much. It is country....Not my thing. Sorry Lucinda.
Going too far into the direction of country. Not my taste... At first I thought it would be something else, since the vocal was a bit different than usual country, but nah...
Coulda been gooder. Joy kinda woke me up near the end, reminded me of The Pretty Reckless. Just a bit
I have some amount less than 584000 hours spent awake left in my life and wasting even just 1 hour on listening to this brings me great anxiety
A couple of passable tracks towards the end but was otherwise a bit of a chore to get through
Background music. Nothing worth noting
Very stereotypical country album. Drinking loss heartache cheating etc etc. ok shes a decent songwriter, voice isnt terrible but there isnt much here to stand out from every other country album of the time.
Her voice was very inconsistent. Thr only song I really liked was Can't Let Go. It was upbeat and fun.
This album was ok but I’m not sure why professional critics are so high on it. I found the way her drawl comes and goes depending on the song to be particularly off-putting. Her voice and in-tuness seemed to come and go too. Her songwriting seemed clumsy at times. Metaphors like metal firecracker, concrete and bar wire, and the title song didn’t work for me. 2.4
I may just not like country but like half the songs (or more) have got nothing going for them, shitty melody, lyrics and annoying vocals. Not all of them of course, I legitimately liked “can’t let go” and to a lesser extent “drunken angel” but sadly any good moments on here are far between
2.5
Boring hurdy durdy country shit I don’t want. I would love it if my final albums were just way way better than this sad trickle down of crap I’ve been getting.
Why do country pop lyrics have to be so dumb. Cheryl Crow is far enough into this genre.
Not for me
I’m guessing this is what music sounds like before it decides what it wants to be when it grows up Lucinda has a good voice trapped in generic middle of the road music. It belongs in an elevator
There is nothing remarkable about her voice or the the songwriting.
Not my jam.
very bland and generic, i also didnt like her voice sorry.. barely a 2
Nothing too bad or too good Solid two stars all the way.
I don't like country idk if this is country but its same vibes also its very American core and I'm not a fan of that unless its Lana del ray Americana core I get it.. there is some car wheels on a gravel road I heard you the first time and the second and the 38th
Boring.
Too often is this just listing off what she is seeing or observing on a simple drive through the country. 3/10
Could have been a 3 but it got repetitive and her voice got annoying
I can see how people would like it, it’s just not for me
I like her voice but not how she sings. She kinda sounds like Courtney love and Fiona Apple. Didn’t like this. Sounds like she’s trying to be country but would sound better singing more Alternative. Don’t think this should be on the list. Not my vibe. Boring. Ok so I do like the album cover but the words at the top are tilting down and that pisses me off like did she do that on purpose?
Thoroughly boring and forgettable.
Country shite
Got to say not just another country album, but only just. First couple of tracks were just that bog standard country music. But then, I don't know, it sort of changed. And for 3 or for tracks it there was something different about it. But then it degenerated again into standard stuff. Onthe whole not bad. Worth a 2.
There was a point where it all good far too stereotypically C&W but most of it was alright!
Just by looking at the title and cover I knew my expectations were going to be low. I didn't mind the first 2 songs, then the full on Country effect started to bring me down. I was expecting it to be more cliche ridden than it was mind you. So a 2 star for that reason.
nice album. fav: joy
4/10
Country com boas doses de pop para soar aprazível.
I hate her voice. It’s really weak. This sounds like a bad rip-off of Lisa Loeb or Sheryl Crow. The only redeeming part of this album is the steel guitar that sounds great.
Whatever, can't bring myself to care about it. Sounds like any country/folk album ever made.
I've heard of this artist. Truly never listened to any of her music. Too folky for me, probably won't listen to much. Definitely not my style of music. Next.
Country-rock, folk, go vokal, liidt kedeligt
I am not sure whether it's my lack of ear for country but I don't see this as particularly stand out or quite get why it won such plaudits. It's pleasant enough but it doesn't warrant another listen.
I knew after getting a few great albums in a row I would pay the price with a bunch of bad albums in a row and here we are.
While this album was well-made, I personally just got nothing out of this experience
Really really generic
Lyrics are fine, music is same-sounding. Disclaimer: Americana is not my thing, alt-country can be good if there is depth of sound and some variety with instrument use. Overall: 4/10
why so long
Not the worst country I've ever heard, but it is country.
only 1 really good song on this album.
She is the absolute spitting image of Shirley from Eastenders, if the American's ever do a remake, I vote her
How the fuck has this ended up on a list of albums to listen to before you die? Fucking shite
It seemed like it was almost good? I was somewhat enjoying her voice and the vibe, but then some of the lyrics started sticking out, and not in a good way. Didn’t love it, might revisit.
This album wasn't for me. I'm not sure what I'm missing but it didn't strike me as overly impressive. It sounded a bit like bar karaoke.
Lads this is TOO country
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is just fine. The album starts great with "Right In Time", but the titular song, "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" can be repetitive and annoying. Other songs on the album, like "Can't Let Go". Best Songs: Right In Time, Can't Let Go, Jackson Worst Songs: Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, Drunken Angel
For the genre of the 90s country it’s quite a good album but the genre is not for me. I can see that it’s good but I can see I don’t like it.
On a road of tunes, dull and slowed, Lucinda Williams’ effort, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. With a twangy accent that never flowed, It's a journey that feels strained and bowed. Each track meanders, the excitement owed, Lost in Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. No spark, no fire, just a heavy load, In her melodies, a passion stowed. The twang of guitars, a tiresome goad, In Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Every note, a struggle to decode, Leaves listeners feeling cold and sowed. So if you seek a thrill, this isn’t the road, Avoid Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Lucinda’s charm here hardly showed, In this album, unfortunately slowed.
Not without merit but boring.
Country ain't really my thing, had alright flow to it though
Ça s'écoute (sauf "Joy" qui est un peu horripilant) mais un peu déçu pour un album country qui est dans les 1001 albums qu'il faut avoir écouté.
I usually like feminine vocals more than masculine, and when I first saw todays album was by a woman I was really excited. Sadly the first some didn’t do anything for me, and while there were a few songs that hit the whole album failed to create a vibe that captivated me. Favourite track: Concrete and Barbed Wire.
Oh god it just keeps going and going and going. Why is so much country-pop always so boring, I thought with all the acclaim this one was going to be different, but it's all the same.
IDK about this one. There is something about her voice that irritates me. Maybe there is something about the tempo of these tracks that is throwing me off. The guitar work is pretty good, but for some reason this is just a struggle to get through. This just feels like cheesy emo music with a country twang. I think my final take on this is I was probably irrationally angry at it and it deserves another shake, but I can't actually see myself ever listening to this one again. I don't know anything about Lucinda, but it feels like disingenuous pandering to wannabe cowboys. Song named Jackson redeems it all.
I could see this album being good to have on in the very distant background while sitting on a beach and not really paying attention. But when I am actively listening, it is not for me
I sometimes love and sometimes hate her voice. Reminds me a bit of Courtney Barnett but the music isn’t as interesting. I should’ve known I wouldn’t like this as soon as I saw that fraud Steve Earle’s name was on this. Kinda reminds me of 90s mom rock. Not for me.
It was okay, the vocals on the recording are too loud with the rest of the music. It kinda flops half way through however the album cover song is a banger
Album had some good moments but overall kind of bland. No songs really stuck out in particular.
Something about this record annoys me and I can't quite figure it out. I don't love Lucinda's voice and I don't love a lot of the lyrics. The songs feel repetitive in an uninteresting way. You can either be repetitive with the instrumentals or the lyrics but not both and Car Wheels On A Gravel road was repetitive in both ways. It definitely sounds like the 90s too which isn't bad but it's just interesting. Can't Let Go was actually pretty decent. It was the only song that really caught my ear. I really enjoyed the guitar in Joy. Jackson was pretty decent too. I don't think those three songs are enough to make this whole record redeemable though.
I wanted to like this album as there were different aspects of each song I enjoyed. But it was a chore to get through.
More bland Americana, country-inflected singer-songwriter stuff. 2/5
Album was just ok for me. Sounded a lot like Sheryl Crow, whose music I prefer over Luncinda Williams.
Some of her songs are Randy Newman on Family Guy, where he sings every mundane thing they do. She makes sex boring in the first song! It does get better but I'm not feeling drawn. Her voice sucks the life out of any of her good lines. This would easily win the Grammy for Lifetime Mundanity.
I am curious....this must be a list for folks in their 30's
This album would fit in well alongside those by Daniel Johnston, John Prine, or other Singer-Songwriters in that vein. However, while this is an album that I can appreciate, it's not for me. It leans just a shade or two too far into Country, which just has a repellant quality to me for some reason.
C&W
Her voice is so boring and uninspired generic twangy guitar tones and sounds this sucks third song is horrible wtf is this i dont think im going to finish this one sounds like an ai album with drum machines and shitty guitar and weird vocals
2.3 per track. Was excited to see some country on here but meh.
Boring and bland.
Raczej nie mój klimat. 2/5
I generally think the lion's share of contemporary country either objectively sucks ass, or is simply not for me. This falls into the latter category I think. Nicey nice. I zoned out very quickly. Did enjoy that she sounded pissed and slurring in Drunken Angel. Aside from a couple of other tracks though it was very much background.
Try hard Americana country
2.1
This is one of the most middle of the road, blandest records I have ever heard. It is certainly not bad by any means, it is just boring. Every song sounds the same, and it really drags on with a far too long running time. A low 2 for me
Not my vibe
Didn't really speak to me, but the background was nice
Sounds like someone recorded my drunk aunt at Applebee's karaoke night
Aunt Tupelo?
Realmente no entiendo que hace este disco en esta lista. Si, le puse un 2 a los discos de Iron Maiden y James Brown, porque si bien no me gustaron, entendía el por qué deberiamos de escucharlos. No lo entiendo con Car Wheels On A Gravel Road. Es un disco tipo country-folk completamente genérico el cual no debe tener mas de 2 temas que son "buenos". Muy poca variacion de instrumentos y tonos, muy poca variación de vibes vocales y muy poca variación en las letras en general. Pareciera que el disco fue creado bajo la supervisión de 2 discográficas, creado en una máquina, envasado al vacío y envíado al público. Rescato del disco 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten y la canción homónima al disco por tener un carácter propio y ser medianamente pegadizas. Le pondría un 1.5 de poderse pero bueno, redondeo para arriba
Did anyone catch the names of tracks 2, 4, 5...? This is a pet peeve. Listen: there are good reasons to repeat yourself a bunch of times. A. defiance (Tom Petty - "I won't back down") B. meditation (Radiohead - "the raindrops") C. syllables as sound ("I'm blue da ba dee") This is none of these. A phrase like "car wheels on a gravel road" is evocative once or twice, but beating over your head it just seems like bad writing.
Like Sheryl Crow but worse
Not too bad.
Kinda country , kinda boring Annie never heard of her before
Ons Lucinda kan hier toch niet tippen aan Shania Twain. Maar ehm serieus, hoe Amerikaans kan een plaat klinken? Hier zitten letterlijk alle ingrediënten in om plat gespeeld te worden door de country radio stations in de States. Vleugjes bluegrass, blues, rootsrock en altcountry, het zit er allemaal in. MURICA, FUCK YEAH. Hoewel ik een periode gehad heb dat ik me goed in de altcountry van Uncle Tupelo/Wilco, Gillian Welch, Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown en Drive-by Truckers gewenteld heb, liet dit me eigenlijk altijd wat koud. Ik snap de appeal wel, maar het mag voor mij gerust wat vuiler en opwindender, of juist zwaar oprecht/emotioneel. Deze staat volgens mij ook maar in de lijst omdat ze uitkwam tijdens een klein breekpunt in de countrymuziekgeschiedenis. Country moet klinken alsof de artiesten echt hun songs geleefd hebben. Ik ken Lucinda haar levensverhaal niet, maar ik heb toch dat gevoel niet bij haar. Er zijn eigenlijk geen nummers die blijven plakken. Of nu écht serieus, geef mij dan toch maar Shania (of Gillian Welch, of Emmylou Harris,...) Ik geef ze uiteindelijk afgerond naar boven nog net een 2, vooral dankzij de uitzonderlijke productiekwaliteit. Die slidegitaar bijvoorbeeld klinkt ongelofelijk. Geen plaat om van te kotsen, maar toch gebuisd. Hoort voor mijn part niet in een top 1001 zoals deze.
Zucht. Ik dacht te beginnen met te zeggen dat de 70's en 90's voorbij zijn, maar nu zie ik dat het album nog op het randje van die 90's is uitgebracht. Ok dan.. Toch! Jeez Louise, zoals ze wel eens in het Zuiden van "the U S of A" zeggen, jeez Lucinda. Ik heb me er door geworsteld, maar elk nummer dacht ik opnieuw: "ok Lucy, het is goed geweest, gebruik eens een andere maat." Dit is de singer songwriter op zijn meligst en het is al zoveel gedaan. Er zit wel eentje tussen dat ik meer kan appreciëren: can't let go. Een bluesy nummertje met wat tempo dat best ok is, maar toch kan IK wel gemakkelijk loslaten, sorry Lucy. En ok, Joy vond ik ook nog wel goed. Ik zal het nog twee sterren geven, want het was goed geproduced en ik ben bevooroordeeld omdat ik sowieso geen country boy ben. Tot nooit meer Lucinda. Voor mooie nummers over liefde of problemen van de mens zal ik wel naar Bob Dylan gaan. Voor mooie 70's samenzang tussen mannen en vrouwen zal ik wel naar Fleetwood Mac gaan. Of fuck it, ABBA! Voor een mandoline in rock muziek naar Rory Gallagher. <3
I’m beginning to feel like I don’t like music, the selection on here lately is leaving me so cold. This was a bit dull, and I honestly have no clue from reading up why it would be on here. Come on guys, give me something to love. Yet another one where I thought ‘ahh, that’s a bit better!’ only to discover the album had finished and it had gone on to the station afterwards. Sigh
fuck, i could NOT stand her voice. i really tried. sorry, lucinda williams; you get a 2 star for ok instrumentals at the least.
Fine, not my cup o tea but I appreciated it
Not sure that I HAD to listen to that, it was okay I guess but nothing extraordinary.
Sounds like a female Tom Petty
When they came out the country loving people in my surroundings said this was the bees knees and still call it the best alt-country album of the last 2 decades. It must've delivered something in that time that was realy needed. Because when listening to it now, I still don't see the appeal as to why this is such a standout album. Some songs remind me indeed a bit of the alternative 90's scene, others really go back into country territory; and you know when that happens, it's when her accent gets dialed up to 10 southern, where that seems to be lacking on some other songs. It's not a bad album, but I really seem to be missing the greatness of it all. It's distinctly flat, in songwriting and production.
Some pretty good Americana country, but nothing very notable really. The best track is the opener, 'Right in Time' then the rest is much of a muchness really. 2.5 stars.
I took a detour off this gravel road about halfway through. Solid 90s country rock for sure, I’m just not into that sound at all.
Prepare for a bumpy ride if alt country’s not your jam.
Can't bring myself to care much about country.
A little too country for me
Never heard of this. The album cover and title look really low effort. It's gonna be country, obviously. Ok yeah nailed it. Sheryl Crow vibes in the vocals. Nothing interesting going on. Nothing awful either, but that's not truly a good thing. 2/5.
cheryl crowe clone from the 90's
Didn't really keep my attention
Definitely more Country than I'd thought. While it's not offensively bad in any way, there just wasn't anything I enjoyed about this album and I occasionally found myself rolling my eyes a bit and hoping it would end soon. Can't understood why this one was popular or in what way it should be relevant.
I almost feel guilty slating this. It's not just the album or the artist but the whole genre I find so generic and dull. It's just not challenging. The songs, singing and lyrics just feel like they're manufactured. It's a shame really because there's a wealth of subject matter out there and plenty of room for depth. It's just never taken, or at least I've not listened to anyone who has grasped the opportunity.
Maybe if I lived anywhere in North America I'd have some understanding about the appeal of this, but it was just so mindnumbingly boring for most of the album. If this album is painting a picture of life in the rural USA it just makes me glad I don't live there. Really wasn't in the frame of mind to have any appreciation for this today either way. Favourite: Can't Let Go
Can see why this is on the list, but too country for my tastes.
Il faut absolument arrêter d'encourager les artistes qui s'égarent dans la country et continuer de ne rien répondre lorsqu'il nous demandent si l'on aime ce style de musique.
Je pisse au cul des américains et de leur culture de merde j'espère que c'est bien clair maintenant.
Nice chilled out listen, but nothing to get overly excited about
Doesn´t do a lot to me, voice and singing style not to my liking as well
I was not loathing it but it’s over stated af. I had to skip trough most of the last tracks
I've never heard of Lucinda Williams before. This sounds like generic country and I'm not sure why it's on the 1001 album list. As this album doesn't sound like anything special I had a hard time actually focusing on the lyrics and the theme of the songs.
Bad
Redelijk saai. Singer Songwriter met af en toe popperig en af en toe country dingen. De country dingen zijn nog wel aardig op zich. Maar ze heeft niet een hele fijne stem vind ik, en dat is bij singer songwriters toch wel vrij essentieel. De nummers pakken me verder ook niet. 2 sterren.
If you like country you probably like this but I don't much
Sure is boring. 4/10
meh
Inoffencive and sleepy in a bad way.
Ok not me
Boring
I mean this in the nicest way possible- this screamed "open mic night at your local downtown coffee shop" to me
Lät ungefär som Sheryl Crow. Sheryl Crow är bättre.
Not my bag
I'm not a country listener, so I'll try to approach this with an open mind. Some of the arrangements are surprisingly pleasant, and Lucinda's voice is certainly capable and soothing, when she doesn't try to put on an exaggerated twang like she does on "Concrete and Barbed Wire". The lyrics read like a geography lesson of southern U.S. (I counted 21 locations referenced, but there may have been more). Songs like "Kool 2 Be Forgotten", "Joy" and "Can't Let Go" are good enough to make me want to explore modern country more, but then the rest of the songs push me in the opposite direction. I give this 2 maps so I can look up where all these places she sings about are. 🗺️🗺️
Verrattuna edelliseen nais albumiin, lucinda willimas on artisti ja kappaleilla on merkitystä....Edistystä on tapahtunut.. Tämä naikkonen ei popista innostunut vaan vuonna 1998 kirjoitti country albumin. Vaikkakin aika halvalla saatukin tunnetiloja musiikin soittimien väliin.. Sävytystä kuitenkin on ja kappaleet eivät ole pinnallisia. 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten biisissä tiivistyy albumin idea, laulajalikka-artistilucy-ville ei ihan hirveen hyvä oo lualaan mutta sieltä löytyy huaska idea. Hyvä albumi, joka on jonkun mielestä ansainnut paikkansa listalla tuhansien. Alt-Country ei kovin kaukana sitten niikun oikeesti ole countrysta. Sen siitä huomas&nöihin kuviin ja tunnelmiin täältä.täjän.l
Hello, my name is Lucinda Williams, welcome to Masterclass. Today I will be discussing how I write great country albums. First I add generic red-dirt instrumentals Then I add the title of the song, a four or five word phrase Then I say it again Then I say it again Then I say it again Then I say it again and we’re done! Thanks for watching
2. painful listen.
Beetje 13 in een dozijn folk-pop. Nogal eenzijdig naar mijn mening.
She has a beautiful voice and this album did nothing for me.
Singer songwriters with country tendencies can be fine, but they have to be able to sing, which unfortunately Lucinda Williams can not. The album will get a couple of stars for the composition (could have been 3 but the best song on the album was written by Randy Weeks) and the instrumental work - but I will never ever listen to more of her work. Just listening to Drunken Angel once is enough for a lifetime without mentioning the travesty that is Joy. If Joy were to be covered by someone like Thundermother it could be quite a good song, it is just completely wrong here.
Not very inspiring