West by Lucnda Williams

Lucinda Williams has slowly but surely found her way to the far end of the gravel road, hit the interstate and headed out west to LA. Has she completely left behind her down home Americana roots? Nope. Not yet. Her latest CD, West, blends her Americana heritage with Los Angeles style angst and hard modern rock, complete with dropping the F-bomb on “Come On.”. Mostly, the CD works. Sometimes it doesn't. But she's moving on down the road. Fans who want her to continue walking up and down that gravel road back home the rest of her life are likely to be disappointed. But she's still among the best songwriters working today. The opening track, “Are You Alright?” is a subtle stunner.

Special guest track notes from Linda (rinderpeste1@iinet.net.au):

Track One
"Are You Alright"
The melody doesnt grab me but as always I crave her honesty and the way she
captures the anxiety that can come when you've lost complete contact with
someone you care about.

Track 3.
"Learning How to Live".
This song is the first pointer to the strength and softness that
pervades "West".

"I'll take the best of what you had to give
I'll make the most of what you left me with
Im learning how to live"

She's moving on, even while she can still "taste" him.

Track 4.
"Fancy Funeral"
Song apparently about her mum's funeral - poignant and aching with just-
contained grief and suppressed tears. At times the rhythm reminds me of that
slow half-dazed shuffling pace found at funerals.
And as always her eye for detail is flawless. Those tiny things we might all
notice but rarely articulate.

Track 5.
"Unsuffer Me"
This is probably my favourite song thus far. To be completely honest, its
because the woman is again singing my song - or the song I was singing some
months ago and man, does she nail it impeccably. The trying to distract
yourself from pain with whatever "unsuffers" you - drugs, another
lover...anything. Its brutal and unlovely but what I love in this isnt just the
confessional shit, its that every line also contains hope and the promise of
healing.

Track 7.
"Come On"
The first time I heard this song, it was a live version and I laughed so much I
cried. This version is still very cool but its angrier and darker than the
despising fury of the live one. What strikes me is that she might well be as
angry with herself as she is with the inept, uncaring bloke.

Track 8.
"Where Is My Love"
Since Lu lost her joy, Ive been waiting for her to do a love song. Not an ode
to lust or passion, but a love song...and this is it. This is gorgeous stuff.
Her "love" (and she mentions "Tony, my love", in the dedications in the liner
notes) is geographically where she isnt and she portrays what its like to be
away and wondering. Her voice is tender and soft and yearning - no trace of
bitterness or anger or disillusionment. Beautiful

Track 9.
"Rescue"
This strikes me as the answer to "Unsuffer Me".
The first line of each verse contains the essence of the song....
"He cant rescue you....He
cant protect you...He cant change you....He cant carry you....He cant save
you...He cant fix you.
"What can he do?
But tie some ribbon in your hair
And show you that he'll always care
That's all he can do."

Again, beautiful and honest and forgiving of herself for even wanting him to do
all those things for her.
For anyone worrying if a fully realised love would turn Lucinda to icky mush,
breathe again. She's still her own woman and she hasnt lost her edge.

Track 10.
"What If"
The imagery in this is stunning. A love song to the world, if you like!

Track 11.
"Wrap My Head Around That"
She returns to pain and disillusionment and probes it all again. Interesting
song with a dark sexy rhythm and some quirky-funny almost Dylanesque moments.
Once again, I get the impression she's as pissed off with herself for getting
it all so wrong.

Track 13.
"West"
Another song dealing with love and separation and celebrating her own life as
well as revelling in a love that she's secure in. There's a world of hope in
this song and a brilliant way to finish the album.