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Album Details

• Artist: Lucinda Williams
• Album: Essence
• Label: Lost Highway
• Year of Release: 2001
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-04-01

Lucinda Williams has been accused of being a perfectionist. That really can't be an issue when she is able to follow up the brilliant Car Wheels on a Gravel Road album with an equally brilliant, if not superior, album. On Essence, Lucinda has recruited the talents of Charlie Sexton (Car Wheels was mainly Steve Earle) and it proves to be a proper choice. Upon first listen I was a bit disappointed at all the slow tracks on here but upon further analysis I realized just how good and diverse these slow tracks were. The album starts off with the strolling "Lonely Girls", in which Lucinda sounds like she is singing about her life. The next track "Steal Your Love", picks up a little bit and it is by far the best track on the album (don't worry because there are a lot more where this came from). For starters the song opens up with "Did they lay down a law and lock up your heart / I'm gonna have to steal your love". One of the tracks I wasn't impressed with at first was the gentle "I Envy The Windâ" but after a couple listens the charm is revealed. The title track has to be noted as well. On "Essence" Lucinda gets a bit gritty and gets some help from the Jayhawk's, Gary Louris. I could go on about every track on this amazing album but if you are one of those people who think of Lucinda Williams as a perfectionist you won't have to be convinced at her talents.

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