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Bubbling Over with Unrequited Love
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IN LAST YEAR'S WEST, Lucinda Williams turned her grief to her advantage, crafting some of the most intense songs of her career following the loss of her mother and a failed relationship. Now she's in a new one, with co-producer Tom Overby (the other producer is Eric Liljestrand), and things are looking up: Little Honey is bubbling over with unrequited love, bliss and optimism. There's nary a trace of the depression and resignation that marked West. For much of Little Honey, she makes much out of little. "Real Love," the opener, cranks right into a Stones/Zep riff and a declaration: "I found my love I've been looking for, it's a real love." Sophomoric? Maybe. But then sometimes the best love songs needn't say more.
Some of the songs have been lying around for a while. The swampy rockabilly "Well Well Well" was originally cut as a demo in 1992; here it features Jim Lauderdale and Charlie Louvin helping out on vocals. "Circles and X's" is also a leftover. But most are newly tailored for the occasion. On "Honey Bee," a sing-songy Creedence-eque rocker, Williams conveys her thrill: "Oh, my little honey bee, I'm so glad you saw me/Now I got your honey all over my tummy/honey bee is heaven, 24/7." And on "Jailhouse Tears," Williams trades lines with Elvis Costello on what may be the most memorable country duet since Johnny and June went to "Jackson": "I just went to the corner to get a cold six pack," EC offers an an alibi. "You're a drunk, you're a stoner, you never came back, " LW retorts. Costello: "I used to be a uer, now I'm outta stuff." Williams, "You're a three time loser, you're all fucked up."
Working with a core ofmusicians mainly from her road band, Williams has never rocked harder, never been bluesier/rootsier, never been more vulnerable and never had more fun. The title track, reportedly inspired by serial doper Pete Doherty, is a stern but not hectoring finger-wag at talent squandered, and "Wishes Were Horses" alludes to unnamed deeds requiring an apology. And then there's the album closer, a non-ironic, faithful cover of AC/DC's "Long Way to the Top." But mostly, Lucinda Williams just wants to spread the good news. "I've been so blessed since our paths have crossed/That's why I'm crying tears of joy," she sings. After that last record, only a meanie would begrudge her.
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