Music Review: Lucinda Williams at 70 remains to be discovering her muse, nonetheless making music that issues

By Associated Press

At least twice on her new album, Lucinda Williams worries about whether or not she will be able to nonetheless write good songs.

She sings on one minimize about placing herself “where the songs will find me.” And on the nearer, “Never Gonna Fade Away,” she frets about what occurs when “the words don’t rhyme, and I can’t find a line, and I’m looking for a sign, and I’m running out of time.”

Ironically, each are good songs. And whereas it’s generally a nasty signal when songwriters bemoan the necessity for inspiration, Williams’ muse visits her a lot on “Stories From a Rock N Roll Heart.”

The album is, as marketed by the identify, a set of hard-charging rock ‘n’ roll. It displays her resistance to being labeled as Americana — although she may legitimately declare a spot on that style’s Mount Rushmore.

Williams’ honesty and empathy serve her nicely on “Hum’s Liquor,” a tribute to Bob Stinson, one of many founding members of the seminal rock band, The Replacements, who died years in the past on the age of 35. The track, which options Stinson’s youthful brother and fellow Replacements founding member Tommy Stinson, demonstrates that Williams, who simply turned 70, nonetheless has the chops to strike deep emotional chords.

Williams dedicates the whole album to Bob Stinson, “a true rock ‘n’ roll heart.”

Her band, a mix of her common touring ensemble and others, sounds particularly good on a tribute to Tom Petty, who died in 2017. Starting with a winding guitar riff that would have come from Petty’s personal Stratocaster, “Stolen Moments” has the ability to make you miss him yet again.

It’s value noting, with out making excuses, that Williams has had a tough few years. Her East Nashville house was broken in a twister in 2020, and later that yr she suffered a minor stroke that left her unable to play the guitar. That pressured her to co-write extra songs, working with husband Tom Overby and others. It may additionally clarify why these 10 songs really feel extra hook-based than centered round her lyrics, and why she worries if she nonetheless has it.

But the songs do discover her, with a giant help from buddies and bandmates. The album could not match her greatest work lyrically, however that’s a excessive bar — and it’s nonetheless ok so as to add one other vital chapter to one of the vital musical journeys of the final half-century.

“Stories From a Rock N Roll Heart” by Lucinda Williams (Highway 20 Records/Thirty Tigers)

At least twice on her new album, Lucinda Williams worries about whether or not she will be able to nonetheless write good songs.

She sings on one minimize about placing herself “where the songs will find me.” And on the nearer, “Never Gonna Fade Away,” she frets about what occurs when “the words don’t rhyme, and I can’t find a line, and I’m looking for a sign, and I’m running out of time.”

Ironically, each are good songs. And whereas it’s generally a nasty signal when songwriters bemoan the necessity for inspiration, Williams’ muse visits her a lot on “Stories From a Rock N Roll Heart.”googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

The album is, as marketed by the identify, a set of hard-charging rock ‘n’ roll. It displays her resistance to being labeled as Americana — although she may legitimately declare a spot on that style’s Mount Rushmore.

Williams’ honesty and empathy serve her nicely on “Hum’s Liquor,” a tribute to Bob Stinson, one of many founding members of the seminal rock band, The Replacements, who died years in the past on the age of 35. The track, which options Stinson’s youthful brother and fellow Replacements founding member Tommy Stinson, demonstrates that Williams, who simply turned 70, nonetheless has the chops to strike deep emotional chords.

Williams dedicates the whole album to Bob Stinson, “a true rock ‘n’ roll heart.”

Her band, a mix of her common touring ensemble and others, sounds particularly good on a tribute to Tom Petty, who died in 2017. Starting with a winding guitar riff that would have come from Petty’s personal Stratocaster, “Stolen Moments” has the ability to make you miss him yet again.

It’s value noting, with out making excuses, that Williams has had a tough few years. Her East Nashville house was broken in a twister in 2020, and later that yr she suffered a minor stroke that left her unable to play the guitar. That pressured her to co-write extra songs, working with husband Tom Overby and others. It may additionally clarify why these 10 songs really feel extra hook-based than centered round her lyrics, and why she worries if she nonetheless has it.

But the songs do discover her, with a giant help from buddies and bandmates. The album could not match her greatest work lyrically, however that’s a excessive bar — and it’s nonetheless ok so as to add one other vital chapter to one of the vital musical journeys of the final half-century.

“Stories From a Rock N Roll Heart” by Lucinda Williams (Highway 20 Records/Thirty Tigers)