1. Are You Alright?

2. Mama You Sweet

3. Learning How to Live

4. Fancy Funeral

5. Unsuffer Me

6. Everything Has Changed

7. Come On

8. Where is My Love?

9. Rescue

10. What If

11. Wrap My Head Around

12. That

13. Words

14. West
    
     

On her previous album, “World Without Tears”, Lucinda Williams employed her road band, and recorded the whole thing live in the studio, with no overdubs. This produced a spontaneous, dramatic, energetic, and raw sound, perfectly complementing her rather bleak, heart-torn lyrics and truly scarred voice.

Unfortunately, on “West”, she has reverted to a rather bland, over-produced, standard country sound. All the instrumentation, including tinkly piano, uninspiring guitar licks, and (mercifully subdued) orchestral arrangements, are impeccably played, but constrained, restrained, and ultimately lifeless.

However, her songs are just as strong as ever, and her inimitable vocal style is just as magnificent.

This is a good album, worthy of the wait since its predecessor. But it might have been a masterpiece.

©  Straight Words, 2007