Lucinda Williams - World Without Tears (CD)

By Robert  Jul 21, 2005

world without tears

By gerry  Oct 13, 2003

Pros: one good song

Cons: sad

Lucinda had one good song on the whole cd. I think lucy is ready for the men in the white coats to take her away.
She is one depressed lady.

Fantastic CD

By John  Jun 21, 2003

Musically diverse, incredible songwriting and sung from the heart & soul... this is a GEM

Back To The Bluesy With Lucinda Williams

By Cherryll  May 3, 2003 | 2 out of 2 found this World Without Tears review helpful

This album is classic Lucinda Williams, as completely different and yet wholly hers as anything
she has ever put out. Car Wheels felt like a journey across the South; and Essence was a journey
to the center of the soul. This is the story of a woman stalled out , and seeking the answers which
exist where she is.
Williams sets the tone in the opening, Fruits of My Labor, a tune with the same electric country
feel as Reason To Cry, when she reminds us all Baby, sweet baby, if its all the same/take the
glory over the fame. She plays with both the language and rythms of rap on Righteously, which
finds its center in the driving electric guitar licks and ballances the why you wanna dis me/after the
way you been kissin me with the by hammering home the line Just play me John Coltrane.
Ventura is a pretty, road styled tune about traveling the California Coast in search of release. Next
comes an track about what country music, and all music, could use more of right now--Real Live
Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings. It is a song Williams fans could sing to her I climbed
all the way inside/Your tragedy/I got behind/the majesty. Overtime is a haunting, syncopated
song about the advice well meaning friends give someone getting over loss. Those Three Days
is an open, bluesy rant about the after effects of a three night stand. Atonement is a starteling,
driving blues blast about wrenching forgiveness. Sweet Side offers a tender follow up to He
Never Got Enough Love, with a rap based melody that still sounds surprisingly country.
Minneapolis offers goergous instrumentals accompanied by Williams hauting vocals. She goes
into a classic blues swing for People Talking, a lyrical gripe about gossip and waggin tongues.
Next she offers a stark picture of the American Dream with Vietnam Vets hooked on heroine and
working class heros out of a job and out of luck when, Everything is wrong. This she follows up
with the almost hymn like World Without Tears where she askes If we lived in a world without
tears...how would broken find the bones. She closed with the equally stately Words Fell a perfect
closing note for such a gifted song writer.
Lucinda Williams is known for being a perfectionist in the studio, and this album reveals her work
ethic. The songs are poetic and meaningful, the instrumentals are haunting and complex and the
vocals are emotional, pitch perfect and distinctive.
PS: For perfect listening accompaniment try Mary Gauthiers Filth and Fire and Maria McKees self
titled

Not Her Best

By James  May 1, 2003

An interesting departure, but I like Car Wheels on a Gravel Road much more.

is this a joke?

By Leah  Apr 7, 2003 | 0 out of 1 found this World Without Tears review helpful

haha wow!! that sux!!