Women of Country - The Internet's #1 Guide to Female Country Music

Album Review

Lucinda Williams
World Without Tears
Lost Highway Records

Lucinda Williams is somewhat of a perfectionist. She can take a painfully long time getting records put together but they usually end up being more than worth the wait. In 1998 she released Car Wheels on a Gravel Road which to date is still one of the best alt-country records ever released. It then took another three years for Essence to appear. That was record setting speed for Lucinda and the album was also a bit of a letdown. The writing in particular was dry and forgettable; a real rarity for a writer as talented as Lucinda. Lucinda at times seems trapped in-between two different artists, a soulful blues singer and a country rocker. It was with great interest that I turned on a copy of World Without Tears to see what direction Lucinda would take us on this time.

This record was recorded live in the studio and that gives it a rough lived in feel. When you listen to this album you really feel like Lucinda and her band are sitting in your living room playing for you. More artists would be wise to take this approach to recording. Just the way this album was recorded makes it instantly recognizable along with being completely fresh and interesting.

The album opens with one of its best tracks, “Fruits of My Labor” where Lucinda suggests “Baby, sweet baby/If it’s all the same/Take the glory day any day over the fame/Baby, sweet baby.” Lucinda already has you hooked in her bluesy sound from the first chorus. The sultry single “Righteously” is also a real winner. This song should be all over radio if there was any justice in the world. “Those Three Days” has to be absolutely the most depressing song I’ve heard in a long, long time. Lucinda draws you into the bleak story and the song will haunt you long after the last note is played. She growls out the lyrics to the rocker “Sweet Side” and in the process you find yourself singing along. “Bleeding Fingers” is about as close as Lucinda treads to anything remotely mainstream and she still pulls it off well.

World Without Tears is a difficult album. It’s a very depressing, heavy, and bleak collection of songs. Yet, you find yourself not able to turn away from it. It doesn’t grab you instantly but after a couple of listens you find yourself being pulled into Lucinda’s world more and more. Lucinda is simply a great writer and her weathered voice suits her material perfectly. This isn’t Car Wheels on a Gravel Road but it’s still a rock solid collection and one that any music fan should own.

The WOC Rating Scale

The album stands above the rest. This is a record that every country music fan needs to have in their collection.

This album is better than the average release. A strong record with some flaws that keep it from reaching that 5 star level.

This album is an average country release. Doesn't posses qualities that make it stand out among all the other albums out there.

A weak record that lacks solid songs or good vocal performances. Sample before you buy.

This record is a bargin-bin reject that just isn't worth the time or the money. Completely misses the mark.