Search - Lucinda Williams :: Ramblin'

An interesting beginning

Up The Stairs | Seattle, WA | 03/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this cd recently when I needed another purchase to get me over the $25 mark for free delivery from Amazon. I've been an avid Lucinda Williams fan for a couple of years, and I've heard all of her albums from the past ten years, so I was interested to see what she sounded like in the beginning. This is supposed to be her first album, and it is certainly different from any of the other albums by Williams that I have heard.



Ramblin' is a collection of folk and blues tunes by artists such as Robert Johnson. Playing 12 string guitar and singing with a beautiful voice, Lucina does some excellent justice to many of these songs. On the other hand, an entire album of other peoples music tires after awhile. It's rather an odd trip when you consider that most of these songs are traditional delta blues tunes, and hearing Lucina sing "Ramblin' On My Mind" is okay the first time. She even does an interesting version of "Stop Breaking Down," that while it won't rock with the Stones version, is still an interesting rendition. "Motherless Children" is perhaps the best cut on the album, and Williams sound so sweet singing it. She has a wonderful voice in these early recordings that isn't as easily heard in later albums such as the new West or Essence, which are much grittier. I could have done without "Jambayla," as she really offers nothing to it, and it is such an over covered song to begin with. It's almost like, why bother. Ramblin' has done something for me, if nothing else, it has me interested in hearing another of her early albums. So, the next time I need a second purchase to get me over $25, I'll be looking for one of hers."