Poetic, Searing Insta-Classics in Honey
Lucinda Williams, Little Honey - On her ninth studio album, country rock’s deftest songwriter oscillates between dispensing friendly advice to “little rock star[s]” and marveling at the layers of passion and intimacy—and despair—she continues to discover, almost 40 years after she was a 16-year-old “little miss playgirl making the scene,” as she sings in “Tears of Joy.” From raging-hormone blues to heartfelt love songs, Williams writes poetic, searing insta-classics etched with fire by Doug Pettibone’s guitar and the rest of her band, Buick 6. Guest appearances by Elvis Costello and Matthew Sweet don’t hurt, either.
12/6/2008