Ramblin'

by

Lucinda Williams

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Lucinda is still amazing, but this debut is phenomenal in its simplicity. Although the songs are all covers (so none of her distinctive songwriting talents are on display), her interpretive skills, vocal abilities, and guitar playing are all top-notch. Sound ordinary? Give it a listen and you won't think so.

There are obviously a lot of Lucinda fans out there, but I don't think many of them have this album. That is a SHAME, because this album rocks. It is so amazing. The clean crisp 12-string guitar playing (by Lucinda), accompanied by a 6-string string guitarist, beautifully harmonize with her pristine vocals. The simplicity of this album (although the guitar playing is far from ameteurish stuff--believe me), which was recorded in a single afternoon, is by no means something to be skeptical about.

If I can only recommend one thing about this album (I can recommend 14 things), it would be the final track, "Satisfied Mind". I've heard this traditional song done by many people (including Mahalia Jackson), but I still think this is the greatest. Lucinda sings the heck out of that song. She sings that song with so much aching beauty that you could just cry if you let yourself feel it. She wrings every bit of emotion she can, to beautiful effect. Too bad most singers today can't seem to do that.

If you like acoustic blues and folk, then I can't help but label this as an "essential recording" in that genre. Get it!!

I have all Lucinda Williams' albums (I think) and this was the latest one I bought. And I must say I like much more her own material than these cover versions. Lucinda has obvious talent and a personal voice but the songs on this album are not so special. There are pearls among the material but anyway this is flat compared to her other work.

So if you have not listened to Lucinda before start with albums "West" or "Car Wheels on Gravel Road". Those are some stars better than this one.

On the other hand if you like the actual songs on this album I am sure you'll like also Lucinda's way to perform those.