West - 8016

Amazon.com Though the arrangements stray from Lucinda Williams's motherlode blend of blues, country, and folk, West may well be her best album. It is easily her most musically adventurous, and often her most lyrically inspired. Williams's singing has never sounded better, from the aching tenderness of "Where Is My Love?" to the ravaged catharsis of "Unsuffer Me." New York producer Hal Willner, who has worked with artists such as Marianne Faithful and Lou Reed, enlists the support of eclectic progressives like guitarist Bill Frisell, keyboardist Bob Burger, and violinist Jenny Scheinman, along with harmonies from the Jayhawks' Gary Louris, to weave a subtly rich sonic tapestry. Much of the material was inspired by the death of Williams's beloved mother ("Mama You Sweet," "Fancy Funeral") and the bitter breakup of a relationship (the jagged-edged emasculation of "Come On," the repetitive incantation of "Wrap My Head Around That"), though "Are You Alright?," "Learning How to Live," and "Everything Has Changed" could reflect the aftermath of both. Other highlights include "Rescue," with a languid subtlety and ambient pulse reminiscent of Beth Orton, and the dreamy, wistful title track. Where Williams's music has long cut close to the bone, the best of West slices right through it. --Don McLeese Lucinda Wiliams Photos More Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road World Without Tears Essence Review "...West will feel like therapy, a soul-stirring shoulder to cry on...there is plenty to love here" -- Relix Feb/Mar 2007 "...the album is easily Lucinda's most freewheeling and expansive to date." -- Bill Friscis Warren, No Depression Jan/Feb 2007 Bill Friscis Warren, No Depression "Are You Alright?" is one of her greatest songs ever, and exemplifies how powerful the new method can be. -- 4 Stars Rolling Stone - Robert Christgau her most intimate and revealing work thus far ..." -- Steve Hochman, Los Angeles Times About the Artist It's long been said that the blues in all its forms is one of the most potent means to transform pain into beauty. Lucinda Williams has known that since she began devouring music as a youngster growing up in Louisiana, and she's been finding new ways to perform that alchemical reaction ever since. With West, a disc that may well be Williams' most personal work to date, the singer-songwriter channels both her emotion and restive creative energy into a startling set of songs that touch on both darkness and redemption. At turns strikingly spare and compellingly muscular, the album's 13 cuts attest to her willingness to stretch as a musician and to put herself on the line as a chronicler of life. "The songs deal with a chapter in my life and they definitely tell a story," says Williams. "It's probably been the most prolific time in my life as a writer. I'd been through so many changes -- my mother's death and a very tumultuous relationship that ended badly-- so obviously there's a lot of pain and struggling, but it ends with a look towards the future." The envelope-pushing sonics on those songs can be attributed to Williams' recent listening patterns -- an eclectic list that includes Thievery Corporation and M.I.A in addition to The Black Keys and White Stripes -- as well as the collaborative relationship she developed with the album's co-producer, Hal Willner. "Hal certainly had a major impact on the outcome of the sound," says Williams. "He had a lot of ideas and he brought in certain players -- Jenny Scheinman on violin, who did all the string arrangements and brought in a couple of other guys -- and introduced a little sampling. I wasn't totally familiar with Hal's work, but I listened to Marianne Faithfull's Strange Weather and that made me think it would probably work. That album is so derived from folk and blues roots, yet it has this very mature womanly quality to it. My goal was to make a mature yet hip album." That quest is at the center of each of West's songs and Williams' unflagging abili
ASIN: B000LXHGFI
VSKU: GGV.B000LXHGFI.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:WILLIAMS,LUCINDA
Binding: Audio cd