Lucinda Williams
Essense (2001)

review by: Chelan David
Date: 4/21/03

A hybrid of folk, country, and rock, Lucinda Williams has the hauntingly beautiful yet unconventional voice of someone who has been dealt their share of hard knocks; similar to Marianne Faithfull circa 1979. The kind of woman you would feel comfortable taking to a honkey-tonk bar and slamming whiskey with.

It took me a few listens to truly appreciate Williams’ critically acclaimed Car Wheels on a Gravel Road but it only took one listen to be hooked on Essence, Williams’ follow-up album.

Essence is a moving collection of stripped-down ballads exploring isolation, loneliness and self-reflection. Void of fancy musical arrangements or complicated lyrics, the title track perfectly sums up the theme of the album.

On "Lonely Girls," the first track on the album, Williams rations words while still managing to paint a riveting picture of image-conscious females who have nothing to show for their posturing. The total number of different words in this four-minute song is only 21 – yet somehow it still resonates.

My favorite track is "Blue." Listening to this song I envision myself on a desolate beach staring at the vast expanse of ocean and at the endless sky; completely alone. As Williams puts it, "I don’t wanna talk/I just wanna go back to blue – You can count your blessings/I’ll just count on blue."

Williams is at her best with intimate, subdued melodies. The one aberration on this album is "Get Right with God," a rousing gospel tune and easily the worst track on the album. With the exception of this song, Essence is expertly crafted and a fine addition to any CD collection.