DawgSong Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 I plan to grab it after work and post back hopefullyin the morning. I've heard most all the songs via live shows and look forward to hearing thehow they came out via studio. Also looking forward to her spring tour. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Been listening to it for a while via the magic of leaked downloads. Sounds good -- I'll likely be buying a copy. I get a little tired of her repetitiveness in some of her songs, but the rest of it's so good that I always forgive her for that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imsjry Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Been listening to it for a while via the magic of leaked downloads. Sounds good -- I'll likely be buying a copy. I get a little tired of her repetitiveness in some of her songs, but the rest of it's so good that I always forgive her for that. Sometimes the lyric sheet is better than the song with her, but the new disc is still really great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 I'd like to hear this. Like today would be great to hear it. I'll listen to pretty much anything Lu puts out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheMaker Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 My biggest disappointment of the year so far, by far. Some of the songs border on drivel, and there are only three tunes out of ten that really feel worthy of Lu's brilliant talent. I felt like Greil Marcus the first time I finished listening to it: "What is this shit?" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
street spirit Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I wouldn't say my reaction was as strong as theMaker's, but after Essence and World Without Tears, I was sort of left wishing she'd try something a little different. It's not as good as the last two, and definitely not as good as Car Wheels, and there's nothing that new going on... which doesn't leave me all that compelled to listen again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheMaker Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Well, I'm probably only extra-bitchy because I have a rotten tooth in my jaw awaiting extraction. (Pain is not too cool for rational thought.) But yeah, I was definitely let down. I thought the stripped-down lyrics worked well on Essence, and the gauzy instrumentation on WWT made it possibly my favourite of LU's records, but West feels like a marriage of the least attractive qualities of those two records. Some of the songs seem really wishy washy ("What If"), and others just seem really petulant and not all that wise ("Come On"). And don't even get me started on the weirdly awkward poetry of "Words"... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I'm looking forward to hearing Bill Frisell and Rob Burgers contributions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I still think it's a pretty good record, but it's not standing up very well for me on subsequent listens. Definitely not as good as much of her recent work, in my opinion. I heard "Are You Alright?" on the radio yesterday. Please tell me that's not the first single ... that may be my least favorite song on the record. Repetitive bordering on annoying. Interestingly, AMG gives the album 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I don't think I will bother - as I have not played her last 2 albums more than once. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imsjry Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I don't think I will bother - as I have not played her last 2 albums more than once. Well, this is one you MUST listen to more than once (not sure how you can form an opinion of any album with one listen). My first reaction was negative but once you let these songs soak in, they will haunt you. The songs seem simple, but she has a LOT going on lyrically as usual. This is not background music. "Where is my Love" may be her best song ever. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I still think it's a pretty good record, but it's not standing up very well for me on subsequent listens. Definitely not as good as much of her recent work, in my opinion. I heard "Are You Alright?" on the radio yesterday. Please tell me that's not the first single ... that may be my least favorite song on the record. Repetitive bordering on annoying. Interestingly, AMG gives the album 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheMaker Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 "Where is my Love" may be her best song ever. Ew. Yeah. No. Or it may not be. At all. Kinda reminds me of the divine "Fruits of My Labor," but with both balls chopped off. And bleeding to death. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Well, this is one you MUST listen to more than once (not sure how you can form an opinion of any album with one listen). My first reaction was negative but once you let these songs soak in, they will haunt you. The songs seem simple, but she has a LOT going on lyrically as usual. This is not background music. "Where is my Love" may be her best song ever. I have not even heard it yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oatmealblizzard Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I really like this album a lot. That is all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owl Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I have to say that West is disappointing, but I'm not too terribly surprised. West seems like a combination of Essence and World Without Tears, but with very little new stuff. The lyrics seem recycled (and bland), and although I really like the sound, it too is not much different from Essence and WWT. It all seems too obviously derivative of her past work. I'm going to have to give it a more thorough listen, but at this point, I'd say it's definitely a little disappointing. Some of her best songs came from World Without Tears- Fruits of My Labor, World Without Tears, but there is no trace of that here- even on Mama You Sweet, which is something that almost all critics have said is her best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imsjry Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 I have to say that West is disappointing, but I'm not too terribly surprised. West seems like a combination of Essence and World Without Tears, but with very little new stuff. Well jeez, if you guys were looking for some sort of Achtung Baby/YHF direction from her than I can see why you are disappointed. It's also not fair. This new disc is fantastic on it's own. Why compare it to her other discs? You also need to spend time with it and not dismiss it after one of two plays....like any good disc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 Well jeez, if you guys were looking for some sort of Achtung Baby/YHF direction from her than I can see why you are disappointed. It's also not fair. This new disc is fantastic on it's own. Why compare it to her other discs? You also need to spend time with it and not dismiss it after one of two plays....like any good disc.The more I listen, the more disappointed I get. And I wasn't looking for any kind of "Achtung Baby/YHF direction." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owl Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 The more I listen, the more disappointed I get. And I wasn't looking for any kind of "Achtung Baby/YHF direction." Ditto on both counts. And the only reason I'm comparing it to the other albums is because the songs, and especially the lyrics, sound recycled. It's too bad, really, but there doesn't seem to have been much creative energy flowing for Lu on this one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owl Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 I gather that not many Pitchfork fans will be picking this up: 3.5 I think they're overdoing it a little. The album is a C at worst. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 I gather that not many Pitchfork fans will be picking this up: 3.5 I think they're overdoing it a little. The album is a C at worst.Yeah, the numerical rating is a bit unfair. I'd give it 5.5, maybe as high as 5.8. Otherwise, though, I'm dismayed at how much I agree with this reviewer. Pretty much hit the nail on the head. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 one of the singles from the last record, Righteously, was a pretty f'n annoying chorus too imo. my wife absolutely LOATHED whenever that song came on the radio Yea.the bite my neck song...LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 I like several of the songs on the Lucinda Williams (1988) album - but the music is generic as hell. I suppose she will never top Car Wheels On A Gravel Road. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nonlinear Nonfiction Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 That's 3.5 / 10 just to clarify for anyone who for whatever reason doesn't read pitchfork. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Littlebear Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 I like several of the songs on the Lucinda Williams (1988) album - but the music is generic as hell. It's the best album of the 80's to me. I agree with the Pitchfork reviewer (and God knows I don't like Pitchfork in general), it's an absolute masterpiece. The melodies are simple and catchy, and set on fire by one of the most powerful and pure voices ever recorded in rock music. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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