| ARTIST: Lucinda Williams |
| ALBUM: Essence (2001) |
| LINK: http://www.lucindawilliams.com |
| Relaxed, strung-out, alluring, emotional, simple,
complex, ethereal... are some of the adjectives I associate with Essence.
To describe the overall vibe of this collection, I'll tell you it's
like the overwhelming bliss people get from the poisons they polute
their mind's & body's with to help medicate their abused souls.
It's quite a change-up from her last Grammy winning album "Car
Wheels on a Gravel Road", which I'd neatly portray as genuine,
roots rock with an edge of its own. This record may take a few close
listens before it infiltrates your marrow and has you feeling every
sublime nuance. Each song has its unique vibe and soundscape, similar
to the material a painter chooses to give texture to his or her works
of art.
The instrumental preciseness, separation, depth and pure intimacy of these recordings are astonishing and some of the best I've ever heard. This isn't what I'd consider a pick-me-up album, but if you are wanting to escape, relax and decipher some low-down, wide swinging moods, textures & simply sincere melodies, buy this and enjoy whatever zone it slides you in. If you need a little more reason to check this out, what do the names Jim Keltner, Reese Wynans, Bo Ramsey, Charlie Sexton, Ryan Adams, Gary Louris and the phrase "Get right with God." mean to you? http://www.lucindawilliams.com. |