LUCINDA WILLIAMS - Sweet Old World LP

Limited edition of 160 copies. Fanclub pressing.

1992 album on vinyl for the first time.

This 4th album shows Lucinda at her finest, accompanied with the best musicians she ever had: Gurf Morlix and Duane Jarvis on 6 strings, already on the 1988 self-titled album and who contribute to give an intensified country-blues aspect, dripping with slide and rough guitar licks. A real delight to listen to, especially those who listen to JJ Cale or Tony Joe White.

Just listen to the relaxed "Hot Blood" to be convinced, the musicians deploy all their incredible talent and even the silent moments after the breaks are loaded with intensity.
This joyful song counterbalances the depressive, sad and funeral side of the record.

Lucinda tells us the story of a man who shot himself down when she was young in "Pineola" and describes the family and neighborhood reactions until the burial day. A poignant song, full of little details in the narrative, sung in a detached way just to let the emotions submerge without any tricks. The minimalist arrangements and the throbbing guitar chord all along the song can't make you remain impassive.

"He Never Got Enough Love" is another sad and energetic song on Sweet Old World. It deals with a murderer's portrayal and Lucinda's voice and lyrics sensitize us about him considered by his parents as a dead loss ("he wasn't brought up right / he never got enough love") and living in fear and alcohol vapour. One can only surrender and think that this man had mitigating circumstances, at the end of the song.