Reviews (page 7 of 8)
This was an alright album some catchy folk pop country. Could tell that there was some old school country in the roots of the songs but with the 90s flair for popularity. Overall it was decent and a bit better than most other albums on this list. 6.1/10
Country alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
Country. Right In Time.
Never knew of this artist, but this album is pretty decent blend of alternative music i love and country music i never even liked. Here it blends really well
Overall a decent album, sort of boring songs not much going on -Top tracks: Can’t Let Go
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
Nice folky country
Sounds like someone recorded my drunk aunt at Applebee's karaoke night
A great Americana album. Lucinda Williams' vocals are certainly distinct and not for everyone, but I dig it. She seems cool AF. Someone else compared her to the singer from Eels, agree 100%. Great songwriting throughout. Can get a little boring/repetitive, but that's an Americana thing more than a LW thing. 4 - Will definitely listen again
Typical 90s chick with a guitar.
Aunt Tupelo?
I've spent more time on what I think about this than any other album on the list so far. It's a surface level nostalgia trip through small town North America - probably not anywhere near as phony as Uncle Tupelo, but also way less interesting. The most analogous experience I can think of is reading a book of short stories from an accomplished writer way past the time in their career where they wanted to innovate. It's all fine, hits sentimental notes often enough, doesn't fall into traps of gratuitous style or complete detachment. Somehow it still has writerly tells that make you hyperaware of the craft, in not just the thing but uncomfortably so for the whole format of storytelling. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
Songwriting masterclass.
I feel like I’ve seen Lucinda Williams live a half dozen times and never listened to a studio album. This is nice.
not a country fan at all, and this album did nothing to change that.
really enjoyed this, had a country sound that was pleasant.
Se acuerdan el capitulo de 'Los Simpsons', en el q homero se hace representante de 'Lurleen Lumpkin'?? bueno, este seria su album. Musicalmente parejo, sin altos ni bajos. diria que este album seria para el country lo que "De fiesta" de Rombai es para la cumbia. [En efecto, lo consideran country alternativo o country rock] btw, lindo album
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
So glad to see this gem on the list. So many amazing songs.
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.
Oldie but goodie with lots of memories attached.
Good, honest record. Worth repeated listening.
Like Sheryl Crow but worse
Solid country album, should put it in the car
If you are into Country/Americana sounding music, this would be a great album, if you are not, then it's average at best. No surprises I fall into the latter camp. Lucinda Williams is able to encapsulate her life living in the deep south of the USA, when it was still tolerable and the right-wing crazies weren't in the limelight. Best: Can't Let Go Worst: Jackson
This album grew on me. At first, I found it a bit underwhelming. Almost like, why is this even on the list? It's inoffensive, sure, but I'm just bored. By the end, I was enjoying it more. For some reason the first three tracks didn't really hit me. Still a solid album overall.
Another alt-country classic. I'd say it's probably more of a 4 for me but the community score for this is criminally bad. It's getting a 5, it deserves it for its influence on the scene alone.
I am not usually a fan of country music, but this album from Lucinda Williams was actually pretty good! Favorite song(s): "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road", "Can't Let Go", "Joy", "Jackson"
The broad category of "country" (I know: categories, groupings, labels...I'm not a fan of these; I'm talking more about the features of the music we tend to label as "country" -- not great, but I digress) is not usually my go-to for listening enjoyment, but when it's like this album, it's great. Really, it's Lucinda Williams who is fantastic. And I readily admit I might be mistaken when I call this country. Is it folksy-rock? Alt-country? I really don't know. I did enjoy listening to this album and most of what I've heard by her I also like. (For example, I absolutely love her song, "Righteously".) She's superb, and this album is very much worth a listen.
Not too bad.
Kinda country , kinda boring Annie never heard of her before
My all time favorite country/americana album. The images Lucinda Williams are able to describe with her frail but powerful voice are incredibly vivid.
Given the history of country albums in this list I was slowly losing faith in the genre altogether. Of course, all I longed for was for Lucinda Williams to appear to make it all okay. Thank you country. Thank you Lucinda Williams.
I was surprised by this. Some really lovely stuff in here!
Enjoyable americana Album
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.
De wekker ging, ik werd wakker en strekte me uit. Een ochtend als zovelen zou je denken? Nee, dat was het absoluut niet. Toen ik van mijn broederschap te horen kreeg dat er een nieuw album gedropt was snelde ik met een overdreven enthousiasme naar mijn laptop om deze nieuwe melodieën in me op te nemen. Wat was dit een foute keuze. Ik dacht even dat de speakers defect waren en begonnen te kraken. Na verder onderzoek bleek het Lucinda Williams te zijn die met haar mensonterende stemgeluiden de ruimte begon te vullen. Snel rende ik naar de elektriciteitsverdeler om deze te vernietigen. Ik riep nog "DEZE WAANZIN MOET STOPPEN". Helaas, het kwaad was al geschied. Deze stem zal nu voor eeuwig doorheen mijn hersenpan razen tot ik de wanhoop nabij ben. Neen, het was niet mijn ding.
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
In het begin was ik van: 'deze platte muziek kan ik niet een heel album lang luisteren'. Wat later waren er een paar nummers die op zich wel aangenaam waren als achtergrondmuziek. Begrijp wel helemaal niet wat er speciaal zou zijn aan dit album. Klinkt heel standaard en commerciëel. 1 ster
Love me some Lucinda, and this is absolutely the album to pick. Roots, country, blues and folk blended together perfectly with her trademark lyricism while escaping the trappings of so many now-dated sounding 90s albums.
This kind of blew me away. The production was phenomenal - really transported me to a sunny, dry afternoon in the country. Top notch songwriting. Can’t think of any reason to go below a 5.
This album introduced me to Lucinda Williams. Not a bad song on here and some are truly great. She's a fantastic storyteller and brilliant, emotional, songwriter. This album is the definition of "americana" style rock. Definitely straddles genres and blends them together seamlessly. Didn't realize that the album was produced by a combination of Roy Bittan and Steve Earle, which is another thing to love about it.
Really nice music here that just feels good to listen to. I’m torn between a 4 and a 5, but it has been growing on me as I listen so I’ll round up. I do like her self titled album more though. Fave songs: Can’t Let Go, Still I Long For Your Kiss (awesome guitar solo) Jackson. Glad to hear something like this on the list.
Wenig interessanter Country Rock
a la segunda escuchada pegó.
Great mix of Americana, Country, and Blues giving space to each to shine. Several tracks reminded me of Big Thief Highlights: Right in Time Car Wheels On A Gravel Road Lake Charles Can't Let Go Joy
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
Hard album to rate. Williams' vocals are bland, 90s country pop - BUT the lyrics are outstanding. The overall sound is uninteresting, but then when you take a close listen there are a lot of layers. Taking off some points for the boring part that I had to penetrate to get to the lyrics/nuance. 3/5
fuck, i could NOT stand her voice. i really tried. sorry, lucinda williams; you get a 2 star for ok instrumentals at the least.
This album is best described as alt-country but that doesn’t quite cover it. The music shows influence from 90s alternative and feminist rock alongside the more traditional country influences. Lucinda Williams’ lyrics focus largely on love but remain firmly grounded as exemplified by the closing track. Though the album is subdued, there is a lot going on that deserves close attention. It’s not as simplistic as it might initially seem.
What an amazing album. Great music, fantastic singing, and songwriting that is simply next level. 5 stars
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.
Funny to have another country album right in a row, but with such a stark difference in quality. THIS is the country I can fw. Her voice is fantastic and the lyrics touch on some familiar country cliches, but in a way that isn't cheesy and grating.
A masterpiece
Good Americana
Very nice music
Sounds like a female Tom Petty
I enjoyed it a lot
Always heard of this as a classic, felt fairly run of the mill to me but I suspect it grows on your
This is a beautiful album from the title track Car Wheels on a Gravel Road to the excellent 2 Kool 2 B Forgotten and the Louisiana soliloquy of Lake Charles. I actually first encountered and fell in love with this Williams album while living in Louisiana and it slides right in there under most circumstances. Just really pleasant.
Life says that everyone, at one time or another, will have to do something they don't want to do. For me it was growing up and getting in line. Figure out how to pay bills. No more of this 'build it as you go' flibbertigibbet crap. I had moved out, 3,000 miles from my family after high school to do something I loved, only I learned that I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. It was a hard pill to swallow, but people were nice, still it was hard for me to find my path. This album played constantly in the background in places that I didn't want to be. Looking back on those days and listening to this again, I realize I'd give anything to be back there. Reflection and this album with Lucinda's steady voice that makes me understand how simple, easygoing and enjoyable life was in the 90s. Glad to have had to listen to this again.
I greatly preferred the more bluegrassy songs on "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road." The more country-tinged songs were not my thing. But the bluegrass was strong enough to earn the 4th star.
Her voice sounds like she swallowed some of that gravel road and I love it. Can't Let Go is a personal fav.
This is really a 3.5. Never really listened to her before, but I would totally listen to this again and Can’t Let Go is a 👌 track. But she loses half a star because I have a general preference for listening to singers I could not potentially sound better than, and I’m afraid she veers into the Sheryl Crow category there.
I do not like Lucinda’s vocals. This was almost a 2, but some of the music is pretty good.
it was a good album. nothing i gonna revisit tho i would give it a 2.5. just not my taste
It’s not bad. I mean, it’s pretty mundane and generic, but somehow in a very tolerable way, sometimes verging on pleasant.
Pretty great album, love Williams singing and songwriting on this record.
I mean does anyone genuinely listen to this? It's so bad I have to believe it's a parody. Bad basic guitar music and horrific vocals, christ even the name is good ol boy. Even the font looks like it was done by a 12 year olds first attempt. Quite possibly the worst album on this entire list.
At first I thought this was going to be another inoffensive album that was going to go in one ear and out the other for me but about 5 songs in I was really engaged and fully enjoying it. It's a fun singer-songwriter album that doesn't get super slow or wistful (for the most part) and instead delivers a lot of neat 90s country/rock sounds especially on tracks like joy and drunken angel. I spaced out during some of the tracks so I might relisten to some of those but the first listen was still super positive regardless. I listened again and everything was on par with a 4 but nothing that elevated the album beyond first impressions.
I'm having a great time with all this mum rock tbh. didn't think I'd love it so much
It wasn't bad, vocally she reminded me of Sheryl Crow. It was country/folk, nothing really stood out to me that would put it on this list. I didn't mind listening to it, but it would probably be on in the background.
I enjoyed this a lot more than a lot of the other country tinged albums I've had. Nearly a 4*
The kind of generic modern country I can't stand. Dull, depressing and repetitive. Nothing really stands out, nor the voice, and obviously nor the lirycs.
Sounds like the music you hear on NPR.
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.
Another one that surprised me...."car wheels" drives me nuts but I did enjoy most of the rest of the album...3.5
This was a cheap CD purchase, and last time I listened I was unconvinced. So one result of listening again might of been to rip and remove. Instead its back on the shelves. The first side of this album is pretty well pitch perfect: a sweet spot between Springsteen, Nanci Griffiths and Gillian Welch. The kind of country rock I can absolutely get behind. Roy Bittan from the E St Band helped produce so no surprise at times it has the boss vibes, and the title track is one that the man himself would wish he had written. The second half can't quite sustain the stellar quality of the first, and there's a track too many, so four stars.
I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did, considering I wasn’t very positive about it when I first heard it. But, outside of one glaring exception (‘Joy’ is incredibly stupid), the songs are all great. It keeps an incredible consistency in being good, and the songs are enjoyable with good lyrics. Really, I don’t completely know why I’m rating it so high, but I really enjoy it.
This album has no idea what it wants to be. Is it country? Sure. Is it rock? Also, sure. It swings back and forth between the two so hard that, at times, it felt like I was listening to two different albums. That said, Lucinda's songwriting is stellar. A bit dated with the repetitive one-liner choruses that were so in vogue in the late 90s but still really solid songwriting. In fact, once I stopped paying attention to the music (and getting annoyed by it) and started listening to the lyrics, I started to appreciate and even enjoy this one. So much so that I revised the score from 2 to a really solid 4-stars.
nice album, not the kind of music that usually does it for my but easy to listen to (mostly) and fun. I think it loses it's way a little near the end, "Joy" being appalling noise which I barely managed to listen to all the way through
Country meio sad songs mas ok.
A long time since I last heard this album - it's still great!
I came in with low expectations of enjoying this but it held more appeal than I assumed it would. 90s female county? Oh yeah Sheryl Crow, that kind of thing… There are some good tunes in here and the cynical curled lip works for me but there’s a repetitive formula to the choruses that’s keeping this down to middle marks.
Un country tranqui. Toca bien la viola y buena voz.
The obvious heir apparent of Emmylou Harris, who appears on this album. She's got a Willie Nelson quality to her as well, even more so if Willie drank whiskey as much as he smokes weed. This is Lucinda's most praised album but I ride hard for a few others. She somehow doesn't get the universal hosannas that someone with her talent deserves. That might have something to do with the fact that her output isn't as prolific as most artists in country music. Give Lucinda Williams credit for instead only releasing music when it's good and ready, when she knows it's exceptional.
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.
Good album, surprised to see its commercial success
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.
Lucinda Williams sings with real emotion. The music is folksy-blues, with a Cajun bite.
Can't bring myself to care much about country.
A little too country for me
Pretty good, but I'm not really used to country. I like the ballads. Standout Tracks - 2 Kool 2 Be 4 Gotten - Drunken Angel - Lake Charles - I Lost It - Metal Firecracker Listened 6/12/23
If there is one thing I'm sick of on this list now that I'm 100 albums in, it's 1990s acoustic singer songwriters who are boring as shit to listen to and all sound the same. I love a good acoustic singer songwriter but for some reason in the late 90s it just all went to shit and it became bland as fuck. This isn't the worst one. This is just the one getting the brunt of my complaining
4.25
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.
Average
Group listened in the car to Cantabria. Very nice
LOVE IT
This is very good but not emmylou
Meh
Almost as amazing as her movie scores of star wars and Harry Potter 2
I don’t have much to say about this album other than that I thoroughly enjoyed almost all of it. A solid country rock album with just enough yeehaw in it to have a good time throughout. Personal favorite tracks are “Right In Time”, “I Lost It”, and “Metal Firecracker”.
cheryl crowe clone from the 90's
I enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would. The beginning of “car wheels..” reminded me a bit of “Dani California” by the rhcp. I would listen to more of her albums.
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.
HL: title track, "Jackson", "Drunken Angel", "Can't Let Go" 3.5 Album cover is a liminal space if I've ever seen one It's all decently enjoyable to me, but I might have to come back to it another time after reading about Williams' acclaim as a lyricist. I was more focused on her timbre and phrasing (e.g. "Car wheELS on a gravel ROAD") and less on the words, which seems to happen when presented with a unique singer that I'm relatively new to (James Bradfield, Stephen Merritt)
Right in my wheelhouse this. Lovely songwriting, beautiful delivery. 4/5
Not a genre I’d usually listen to but it was alright for cooking tea with ! 3*
Quite nice.
90s pop country. Listenable enough. Quite MOR, but interesting personal lyrics. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Right In Time Date listened: 06/05/23
My mom describes this as elevator country music and I agree. Painfully generic.
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
Boring
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
Good news! I've just listened to a country album and it wasn't totally terrible! Bad news, it wasn't that good either. I just don't feel this kind of music - it's nauseating at times, which only makes me feel more antagonising toward the album. I found few songs that were quite good, for example "I lost it", or "Can't let go". Lucinda seems to be very talented and really good at what she does, just it's unlucky that it's so far out of my comfort zone, I can't enjoy it at all. But I tried! Good effort, not my jam.
Doesn´t do a lot to me, voice and singing style not to my liking as well
Excellent album, 5 stars in my memory, but now listening to it again after quite some years, I felt underwhelmed by several songs. The album also suffers from the fact that Lucinda Williams' best songs can be found on her previous albums. But still an excellent album of course.
Absolutely flawless. Top-notch americana.
Refined songs with extraordinary vocals and just the right amount of edges.
It's a great album - I've loved it since I first heard it years ago, even though this sort of Americana is not usually to my taste. I think she has an intriguing voice, writes catchy tunes, and writes with a direct, original style.
County / Rock / Folk. Great voice and sound. Though all the songs sounded the same, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
I was not loathing it but it’s over stated af. I had to skip trough most of the last tracks
I was surprisingly into this.
It was a few years after-the-fact when I first listened to this one but it deserves every single bit of praise it gets. An all-timer.
Beautiful heartfelt country record that overstays it's welcome just a bit too much. Side A is in my opinion the stronger side, while side B drags on a bit. Still very enjoyable and a great listen! Favorite lyrics: - The telephone poles, trees, and wires fly on by. - Some kind of savior singin' the blues. A derelict in your duct tape shoes. - Did an angel whisper in your ear? And hold you close, and take away your fear? In those long, last moments. - I got a big chain around my neck. And I'm broken down like a train wreck. Favorite tracks: - Right In Time - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road - 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten - Drunken Angel - Lake Charles - Can't Let Go 7,5 out of 10
i didn’t love her voice and that brought some pretty good songs down to okay songs which was unfortunate.
A bit confused as to why it’s on this list tbh
Whatever else you might think of the genre, there’s no denying that this is a finely crafted, beautifully assembled collection of songs. The production is excellent and the arrangements are terrific. Williams has a knack for evocative images and storytelling. There’s a veracity and an authenticity to the writing.
Ooh love it. Can't let gos great
Before today, I'd never heard of Lucinda Williams before. From what I've read, she is a country/folk musician. This album is regarded as her break out record in which she fused elements of rock, blues, country, and Americana. After listening to the album, I would agree with that assessment. Her musical stylings remind me a lot of Sheryl Crow, but her singing ability, or lack thereof, reminds me of Bob Dylan. When the first song came on, I was impressed with the music, then she started singing, and I thought "oh God, what am I in for?" Her delivery is nasally, her accent sounds thick, and she sounds drunk. It is hard to describe, but it is just different, and initially jarring. One of two things happened as the album played through, however. Either she found her voice after the first couple of songs, or I got used to it, because the album itself is great, and I find, is stronger on the second half. Overall, not a bad listen today. Very "middle of the road". Perfectly average. Not a trend setter, but certainly nothing wrong with it. Favourite songs: Lake Charles, Can't Let Go, I Lost It, Metal Firecracker, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten, Concrete and Barbed Wire Least favourite songs: Joy (could she say the word "Joy" any more than she did in this song? It became very annoying after the first 100 or so), Right in Time 3/5
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.
Country alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
I wanted to like this album a lot more than I do and that’s upsetting. 2.5 I guess I’m not sure
It was alright, had some good tracks but not my music
Bad
Genres: Americana, alternative country Formed: 1979 Run time: 13 songs, 51 min 47 sec Although I’m not a fan of Country, I did enjoy the whole album. My Rating: ***
I so badly wanted to love this but was admittedly kinda bored. Felt repetitive
Good run of albums here
Yeah, she’s awesome!
Pretty freakin cool we got to see her perform at Red Rocks #humblebrag
It's great. My name is Dan. I'M STEALING OTHER DANS account. - Other Dan
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.
I don’t do country. Too American. I’ll listen to their country shit when they learn to morris dance
What a thrilling reinterpretation of the country genre, really shook things up here.
I hate country fucking hell
If you like country you probably like this but I don't much
6/10 nice songwriting and production, but the vocal performance was lackluster
6/10. I don't love her voice, but some of the songwriting is quite good. Don't love it as an album, but definitely a couple good songs.
Sure is boring. 4/10
my least favorite thing about an album lacking in innovation is how little it even attempts to give any semblance of life to that well-beaten path it treads. Lucinda Williams’ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is standard country fair, with flourishes of roots and americana, and yet all i can hear is monotony. the lyrics are the strong suit here, but they fall flat once backdropped against the formulaic compositions and lackluster instrumentations that don’t care to offer anything else beyond basic structural decency. even the themes Williams tackles — evocative as her writing may be — have all been done well enough before and after, that her album presents nothing dynamic. in the end i guess it clears the bar for what makes a not-bad album, but the only thing truly worse than a bad album is one that’s just mediocre. it’s unmoving, repetitive, and mostly unforgettable stuff.
meh
The album is decent. It gives me a bit more pop vibes than your usual country/folk album, but that might also be its appeal. A few songs do stand out.
All round great recrod
I like the country sound and some of them are very well written. It’s a melancholic sound with soft pop in it.
Inoffencive and sleepy in a bad way.
Nice mellow country album with just the right amount of grit.
Stunning
Hadn't heard of her but quite enjoyed listening to this
Felt abit of blues, country and some folk. Overall good variety solid album.
If i was in a different state of mind i might love it but for now i was just kinda bored a lot of the time. its not bad tho
Très belle voix. Elle me fait penser à Sheryl Crow, mais je crois que je la préfère. Écoute agréable, mais je pense que je n’en connais pas assez pour distinguer ce qui en fait un album à entendre absolument
Ok not me
Objectively, this is a really good album. She influenced and outlasted artists like Sheryl Crow and KT Tunstall. Good voice, great story-telling. Good shit.
Je sais pas pourquoi mais je me rend compte que j'adore le country,surtour pour des al ums ecoeurant comme ca et a petite dose. 5
Boring
i liked it
3 Simple, pleasing folk music
I mean this in the nicest way possible- this screamed "open mic night at your local downtown coffee shop" to me
Uff, el country debería desaparecer de esta lista
Pretty good, honestly. Chill morning album but not something I would ever listen to in my spare time.
Lät ungefär som Sheryl Crow. Sheryl Crow är bättre.
"Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" is the fifth studio album from American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. The style of music is a mixture of country, pop, blues and folk and really one the albums that began and popularized the Americana/alt country genre. Yeah, when you begin a genre that's a pretty big thing and this album is worthy of that. There are guest appearances by Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris and were multiple producers in Earle, Roy Brittan, Ray Kennedy and Lucinda herself. A good description of the album are themes of heartbreak, love and losing formers lovers and friends with imagery of traveling through/in cities in the US South. The album won the 1998 Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album and Village Voice voted it the best 1998 album. Well deserved. A twangy guitar and Lucinda's exhausted voice begins "Right in Time." A great melody and pretty much a perfect sounding pop song. About her losing someone that you thought was perfect for you and, then, ummm, about enjoying yourself thinking about him. Lucinda adds some urgency in her voice to "Drunken Angels." Boy, the layered guitar production is great on this album. A more rock song. The song is about musician Blaze Foley who was shot by his friend's son in a drunken fight. The guitars give "Can't Let Go" a jamming, grinding feel. Great slide guitar and guitar solo. A guy left her and she can't forget about him. "Still I Long for Your Kiss" has a country-rock vibe. Some more great layered guitars and solos. Another song about not wanting to let someone go. Lucinda gives a rap singing style to "Joy" with bluesy guitars and a slide guitar. She traveling from town to town and about a former lover. The album concludes with the soulful/gospel-esque ballad "Jackson." She's traveling from Lafayette to Baton Rouge to Jackson trying to convince herself she won't miss her boyfriend. The album sounded absolutely great not aging since 1998. The production is fantastic and the album just moves along. Multiple styles heard but really in its own category. A must listen.
Not my bag
Great songwriting, obviously her unique and unmistakable voice adds significant personality. Was over it by the end of it though - I think a combination of her voice and how straight-ahead country it is.
Although I've never listened to this album before, the songs seem familiar. I thought I was gonna hate it, but it's okay. Has that very 90s indie Americana sound to it that adult contemporary heavy NPR stations everywhere love so much. That middle class rootsiness trying to pretend it's less educated and worldly than it actually is.
A lot of familiarity here, very close to 4 but a few ehhh songs. Pretty nice though.
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. 🗺️🗺️
Little too much country for me. But, ok.
production on this is offensively annoying, thought I was exempt from the “I listen to everything except country” but turns out I’m not this was painful to get through. no more 90s Americana please. only song I liked: right in time
3.25
Didn't think I was all that keen on country, but this album was pretty rocking. Full of feeling but with enough power to feel a bit feisty. Lovely stuff
Country. Right In Time.
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
It’s a nice album with good lyrics but is it that special…nope 3/5.
Finally, some Country I enjoy. Great stuff!
Song after song I thought Oh, this is a good one!
кантри не моё
I liked it, solid background. Nothing stood out but it was a good listen overall.
Just oozes authenticity. This is perhaps a bit less raggedly confessional or emotionally raw as some of her other records, which might cost a bit of power, but it also avoids the risk of sloppy sentimentality (which has been a bit of a occupational hazard for Lu) and gives a sense of control and mastery of every song. This is musicmaking at a very high level, well conceived, extremely well executed, and not overdone or showy. Every song works, and the first five are uniformly strong. The songwriting is terrific, the playing expertly professional. She's a true artist it's hard to believe there's only one of her records on this esteemed list.
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
Nice.
This album is kinda boring. I didn't really care for any of the songs except for Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. All the other songs were putting me to sleep or just went in one ear and out the other. Favorite song: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Worst song: Joy
I really like Folk music and Americana so this album is right up my alley. Great songwriting and imagery of life in America.
Decent folk/country
Was not one that I had heard before, just not in my listening lane.
me gustó pero bueno tranqui 7,5 / 10
It was really nice, but not interesting. A decent record.
2. painful listen.
Beetje 13 in een dozijn folk-pop. Nogal eenzijdig naar mijn mening.
Perfect Sunday soundtrack that just rolls through the heart. Even though I now barely drink and haven't touch a cigarette in over a decade, for me this album envokes the sweet haze of a mild hangover, more sleep deprived than feeling ill, your body infused with the scent of stale cigarettes as you chainsmoke lying in the afternoon sun
All good songs, and even a couple hits
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 really my type of country music. Sad and depressing.
Soothing music, great for calm late nights
I got this album on release. As soon as I heard her lyrics refer to the "Drunken Angel" as a "derelict in duck tape shoes", it easily became my favourite album I bought in years and one of my ATF country albums. She was loaded with angst at the time she wrote this and poured her soul into it. The subsequent albums she made (that I've heard) haven't come close to this gem. I guess she became happier. Good for her.
A great combo of traditional country with all it's southern rural hurtin' themes and a modern, rocky, but not overproduced sound. Her voice seems weak and flawed at times but that adds to her vulnerability. I especially like it on Drunken Angel and believe that there may be a few alt country singers influenced by that sound, based on what Spotify sends me. One more listen might get a 5 from me.
Not very inspiring
When I saw this album was country, I had low expectations, but this actually wasn't bad. A lot of the songs felt very long, despite only being four minutes or so in length, but it wasn't necessarily in a bad way. My favourite song was Joy.
I don't normally listen to country music, but this record actually wasn't too bad. I enjoyed the guitar work and some of the melodies in a couple of the songs. However for the most part, it felt a little flat. The vocals were nice and smooth and deserve a lot of praise, especially in the second half of the record. They lyrics were sweet and full of heartbreak which fits nicely with the Country genre. The drums were easily the lowest point of the record. Very flat and almost boring at points. However, overall it was very enjoyable and there is a lot of good things to praise about this record. Favorite Track: Still I Long For Your Kiss Least Favorite Track: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
Pretty good for country.
Didn’t finish this—not bad album just wasn’t into it
A good album, reminds me of Tori Amos (or is it the other way round) a bit, or even a female Steve Forbert maybe? Some good tunes though and lyrically very strong I think. I Loved "Right Time" "Concrete & Barbed Wire" and the Title Track. all good in my eyes and ears!
Earthy, languid, bittersweet and sexy. Effortless, bluesy sound that probably launched a hundred alt-country bands, all inferior. This is such a perfect listen for a late summer afternoon. Fave Songs: I Lost It, Metal Firecracker, Right in Time, Can't Let Go, Drunken Angel, Still I Long for Your Kiss, Joy
Saved from a 1 by Joy.
Pretty unassuming, not much to report
Not for me. Only listened to half
So, so dull and repetitive
Countryish
A pretty fun country style record I hadn't heard before. Good fun.
Didn’t like the vocalist at all
Loving this. Been on a mission to seek out more female rock/country artists, and Lucinda just shot to the top of my list. After a quick Google seems like she's doing some shows with Waxahatchee, which makes perfect sense to be now. Incredible voice, great musicality, perfect for listing to on these hot summer evenings. I'm not a massive country fan, but there's more than enough bluesy toe-tapping, head-nodding, guitar-sliding goodness here to get me on board
Envie de hit the road
ronpiche et pas dans le bon sens du terme
Listened to this at work and was distracted through some of it. There was a lot I liked and some I didn't. Not a bad record
made me feel like i was in an episode of friends. or purgatory as its usually called.
No thanks
Inoffensive and unexceptional country music
straight down the middle of that gravel road
THIS was 98th on Rolling Stone’s top 500 albums?! Ever take a drink of a soda and it’s flat? I mean it’s not spit it out awful but you’re probably not going to take more than a couple sips. This album was a flat soda…for me.
nostalgic
This was a new name for me, but I know I have heard Lucinda Williams' music before, playing on our public radio station's morning show. This album definitely painted lovely pictures of the South, and I enjoyed the ride. The title itself evokes such memories and stirs up emotions as it repeats through the title song.
My rating for today is not based as much on the music or lyrics (which I did enjoy) as it is on the experience that this album gave to me today. My familiarity with Lucinda Williams comes from a friend including a selection of her tunes on some mixed tapes. Although that friend died a little over a year ago, she definitely accompanied me on my walk today as I listened to the album. She even made a point to give me a nod through a passer-by...The person asked me what time it was so that I could tell them the time and then mumble, "If you want to know the time, buy a watch."
Good solid bluesy country folk, reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss. Very nice.
I haven't listened to Lucinda Williams that I recall. But I have heard the songs she has written. She has an authentic feel that is appealing. I feel like I just walked into a dive bar where someone better than the joint is performing. Not my favorite country album, but still pretty darn good.
It's fine, but no more. 2\5
4 of 5. Great voice
Another classic!
A favorite
Normal
What an awful album. I suffered through it.
Dull
Au début, je croyais à une pâle copie de Sheryl Crow, pour me rendre compte qu’elle était là avant. À mesure que l’album avance, il arrive des trucs plus intéressant. J’ai bien aimé Can’t let go qui semble marquer un tournant dans l’album. La suite est meilleure que le début à mon avis.
Oh, 2e écoute dans le cadre de cet exercice en moins de 10 jours. Voici ce que j'en avais dit: "Intéressant à écouter. Pas un genre qui m'intéresse, mais la voix est superbe. Un timbre un peu dans le genre de celui d'Eleni Mandell que je préfère à cause du côté musical un peu plus éclaté. Je reconnais que cet album a sa place sur cette liste, mais je n'y reviendrai probablement pas." Haha, finalement j'ai été obligé d'y revenir (ou pas en sautant l'écoute et copiant ma première review).
Decent enough, but a bit dull.
I love Folk Rock so Americana and some Alt Country is fully in my lane. And knowing that she toured with Jason Isbell just makes me like her and this album more. "Right In Time" and the titular track were two of my favorites. I certainly attach more to the Americana aspects, but it is good Country music too. A very re-listenable album for sure!
Intéressant à écouter. Pas un genre qui m'intéresse, mais la voix est superbe. Un timbre un peu dans le genre de celui d'Eleni Mandell que je préfère à cause du côté musical un peu plus éclaté. Je reconnais que cet album a sa place sur cette liste, mais je n'y reviendrai probablement pas.
yawnnnnnnnnn
As a country album, it's an equivalent of a white bread. And... I liked it. Being a perfectionist, Williams reportedly released this album six yees after her previous one. While conflicts does contribute to this delay, I can still observe the sanitized feel of the album. I love her voice. It's soothing and when used well, it carries emotion like it's a wave. But even that is generic. Not even the admittedly nice interaction with the male backing vocals made it a unique voice. The instrumentals are pretty good. Everything is in the right place, but ultimately, it becomes a bit predictable, and therefore uninteresting. The production is neat, but again, generic. The critics were praising her songwriting skills. Judging by the tracks' titles, it might be interesting but I don't want to explore it further. Again, this is like white bread. That mass produced, generic commodity that one can find in the local store. Her perfectionism might have made her album overtidy and uninteresting, but I've got to admit that she still did a great job crafting its overall sound. I unashamedly enjoyed this white bread, and I don't mind consuming it again... after a while.
2/5 Too slow and sad
okish
Very sheryl-crowly...
reminds of my sheryl crow
surprisingly good. Also, she must be friends with Sheryl Crow
Didn’t mind this, but it feels like I have been here before and is an update of a style from another time. Perhaps it’s timeless, but I didn’t feel it was anything new. Can’t Let Go jumped out from this set, maybe because it’s a bit more rocky / angry, but generally, this was a pleasant enough backdrop to doing other stuff and not much more.
A little too twee and country-fied for my liking.
Find myself enjoying country more and more. This is a decent album which has good subject material, and isn't too whining. Probably not going to be a repeat listen, but would be happy if it came on shuffle on a playlist.
04/23/2022 Alt-blues country... Not really my thing.
I've heard of Lucinda Williams by only by reputation. I am expecting twangy music and quality, transporting lyrics. First song does not disappoint. I guess you'd have to call "Right in Time" sex positive? Certainly paints a picture. The next song is just kind of ok. And it goes downhill from there, really. By the time I got to Greenville and Joy I was actively annoyed with this album. The best songs beyond the first track were Can't Let Go. But they weren't enough to bring the album into overall "good" territory. Maybe my expectations were set too high but I just wasn't impressed.
I know it's not true, but she sounds like a discount Sheryl Crow. Generic.
Pretty dang good roots country. Consistent from front to back 👍
Not really my kind of thing. I couldn't get to grips with it at all. At points I thought I was almost enjoying it, and then some vocal twang or another jolted me back out of it.
Best Song: Can't Let Go. Nice rolling rhythm. Reminds of me of KT Tunstall's modern (and extremely popular) "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." Worst Song: Concrete And Barbed Wire. Whatever cleverness the title might have had was entirely wrung out by the excessive repetition of the phrase. Overall: She has a sweet voice, but I just find the music inoffensively bland.
Oli tälläkin levyllä hetkensä ja sopi varasin hyvin kiireisen työpäivän taustamusaksi. Toisena päivänä selvä kakkonen mutta tällä kertaa armosta kolmonen.
Harvemmin lämpee näille kantriartisteille, mut tää oli kyl toimiva
That's a whole lotta country. Enjoyed it though, quality songwriting throughout.
Fyrirsjáanlegt. Litlaust.
Wanted to give it a 2 because I usually don't like country music, but it's good music, feels pretty genuine which I liked
My first 5 starrer here. Fantastic record
The album title itself sums up the level of creativity going on here. I mean why not call it "Apple falling From An Apple Tree" or "Christian Reads the Bible" or "Airplane Lands on a Runway". To be fair it's not terrible, but it did feel like terminal tedium to listen to the whole thing. Especially listening to it in the context of 1001 albums. Next!
Enjoyable for a change
I tried to be objective it's really not my sort of music. It wa professionally produced tinnitus.
Rather dull, generic sounding but inoffensively so
Nope. Not for me.
Generic middle of the road Americana country music, not terrible, just uninteresting.
1998 - Americana; alternative country
Love that growling voice. Although got kinda boring after awhile except for the hit that I really like
Some good folk country vibes, I can handle this more than the rock/stadium country. Still felt a bit long and not exactly for me. 3.5 round down.
Thoroughly boring and forgettable. Sounds like royalty free music composed for the SUV commercials that run after an episode of Pioneer Woman. The fact that this is Rolling Stone Magazine's 98th best album of all time shows what a complete disgrace that magazine is. Some albums get onto these sorts of lists not because the MUSIC is good or impressive, but because of their cultural context. Like wow a country woman lazily singing about “Broken down shacks, engine parts”, this album must be so heckin culturally significant!!! As if that's what makes a good album I like old folksy country music quite a bit, from the 1970s and earlier. But modern country utterly disgusts me. The way she pronounces "Pierce the skin and the blood runs through" in the first song makes me vomit.
Had ik iets meer van verwacht
Haar stem en eigenlijk de muziek deed me soms denken aan Bettie Serveert. Ook precies zo'n band die ik eigenlijk goed zou moeten vinden, maar wat nooit helemaal gevallen is.
Niet heel spannend, maar best oké.
Niet vervelend maar een beetje een te hoog Sheryl Crow gehalte.
Best mooie liedjes. Een soort warme douche :) Maar ook wel een beetje zouteloos en erg sheryl-crow-ig.
Love the album cover for some reason... And hey, it's pretty good roots, blues, souly country AND western. Generous 4/5
I really enjoyed this. Americana with a good voice, Sheryl Crowe meets Ryan Adams. High 3.
A few years ago I was listening to spotify similar to playlists and songs from this album were on that list. Prior to this I was never really into any form of country music, but I enjoyed the songs and decided to listen to this album in full. It completely worked for me and introduce me to the genre. Lucinda Williams has led me to other country acts and it's a genre that has some really great music if you avoid the mediocre radio pushed country. 4.5/5
Liked the vibe
not bad
Ein außergewöhnlicher Tiefpunkt was Ideenleere und Vermeidung jeglicher Kreativität angeht. Unterirdisch. Ich bin fassungslos. Ganz und gar nicht hörenswert.