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I’m sure most people here would disagree, and rightly so, but the website Spectrum Culture included Ms. Williams in an article on the most disappointing artists of this decade. If anything it’s worth a read and should spark some debate.
http://spectrumculture.com/2009/06/end-of-the-aughts-disappointments.html
And then the proverbial downward spiral really kicked in. The obligatory live album followed in 2005 with the dull Live @ The Fillmore; showing the complete lack of imagination we’ve come to expect from music labels, the release simply culled tracks from several different Fillmore shows, offering up bits and pieces instead of a complete show. The dual studio atrocities of West and Little Honey rounded out the decade and did nothing to offset this slipshod live product; taken together, they are underwhelming, self-indulgent and remarkably forgettable. West’s songs were at least partially doomed by the album’s lengthy running time – more than half its songs clocked in at over five minutes – though the stilted production did them no favors either. Little Honey was disturbingly lousy, with Williams offering up 13 mostly sappy odes to Love and that’s with a big fat f#*king capital L. It was everything fans thought Williams could never be: maudlin and melodramatic. The nausea countless listeners experienced wasn’t due to a bad fish taco.
Well, another view seems to surface again. However, some on this happy little forum will disagree and rightfully so. Such a dichotomy does indeed exist in her fan base and for good reason. Without question, her early albums cast a very long and beautiful shadow; one that is very hard to reproduce especially with the influence of so many high-profile producers who seem to be “stilting” and artificially flavoring the end product. Some posters have argued this point many times (even though they were swiftly and artfully cut off at the knees complete with name-calling banter). Whether you agree or not, this is a very well-written and nicely crafted article. Like a newly discovered field of wild flowers in a meadow, LWs early pieces are beyond special, beyond belief, and beyond wonderful…
I think the article is relatively even-handed and there are valid points; that said, there are comments that just had me shaking my head. I agree with the author’s assessment of Essence, mostly, and I don’t think “erratic” is such a bad way to describe WWT. That said, I completely disagree with the notion that Righteously is a bad song that never should’ve been released, and while I don’t think Atonement is a great song, there’s some good stuff there that I would hate not to have heard.
While West may be my least favorite Lucinda album, I also disagree with the criticism that it’s bad because of the length of the songs. I hate, hate, hate people who complain about lengthy songs in and of themselves. If it’s a good song, I want it to be long. If it’s a bad song, then two minutes is too long.
And I think the author is dead wrong about Little Honey. The fact that he characterizes it as “13 mostly sappy odes to Love” shows that he either didn’t listen closely or has a dramatically different definition of “sappy” than I do. Maybe Knowing or Tears of Joy are sappy, but there’s a lot more to Little Honey than that. Circles and X’s, If Wishes Were Horses, Jailhouse Tears, Well Well Well – are those sappy love songs? How about Real Love and Honey Bee? That a song is relatively positive about love does not make it a “sappy ode to love.”
That said…if I had to pick a decade as her weakest decade, yeah, I’d pick the ’00s over the ’80s or ’90s. But I feel (as many others do, I’m sure) that her very strongest material sets the bar so high that even if she never reaches it again, it doesn’t make her more recent work mediocre. There’s a lot to like from Essence onward, and when I’m pulling a CD off the shelf, I’m not concerned with ranking it in the context of everything else the artist has done. If it’s good, I want to hear it.
If by “very good” you mean “bullshit”, I agree entirely.
I don’t know who this reviewer is, but I am surprised he can review albums with his head that far up his ass. How can he hear the music that way?
He doesn’t like anything after Essence. I get it. That doesn’t mean the albums suck.
Why is it that every time (OK not every time) that some one comes in with a different albeit well-framed opinion in regards to LWs music, people find it necessary to say it’s bull*hit or they have their head’s up their #ss? Not that I agree with everything that the latest author is saying (I do, in fact, really enjoy Essence–lots of great musicians and energy on that record), but his stance is not only articulate, accurate to a certain degree it’s also stunningly modern in terms of vernacular, properly placed swears, metaphorical language and sweet tie-ins to the decade and music at hand. Why is it that such views are so quickly dismissed and bullied out of the dialog (no wonder we have problems with bullying and harassment in this country)? What’s even more curious and awesome is when TO comes in here like a pissed off Hockey-Dad who starts into yelling and ranting at the coach ’cause his son didn’t make the team (whose son shouldn’t of made the team by the way!). Really now, why all the angry commotion and contention? Looking in another direction, can you really defend the idea that some of Little Honey’s lyrics aren’t truly simplistic and melodramatic (Honey Bee for example–would you really score points with your lover by reciting those lyrics aloud during a romantic interlude)? Like Costello and Dylan, not every album, every show, or every breath you take is awesome. I’m gonna leave that kind of sugar-coated blather and notion for someone like Sting…
review is bs.
WWT is an awesome record. Great songs and an unbelievable band…
he must have bananas in his ears.– at least half the album was cluttered up by tedious vocals and bloated arrangements. “Righteously,” “Sweet Side” and “Atonement” would have been best served relegated to the b-side sh*tbin, while “American Dream” and the title track were both preachy and pedantic
I agree with most of this quote however, WWT is one of my all-time favorite songs from any artist. Youtube has terrific tear-stained live version that highlights her band of that era (the early days w/Doug) along with the many things that makes LWs, well, LWs. I give the author a lot of credit for having the courage and intelligence to put his pen to paper and really let it fly. It’s worth much more than a quick swipe discounting it and claiming it to be smiple bullsh*t…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE2uEl_aB9E
DiM, I love the way you always make this about you. It’s your greatest skill. Let’s recap, for those who have missed the last 20 times you pulled this act.
Someone, somewhere in the universe trashes LW. You explode itno a supernova of praise for this person, who is obviously “right”, if not gifted, prescient, well-spoken, and possibly a god on their own world. You do so here, in a forum of LW fans. People disagree, get upset, etc. Those people are cheeleaders. They don’t get it. You then go into your martyr, self-pity mode, and cry at all the nasty people, like TO, who is a angry hockey dad, and me, who is the source and cause of bullying in the world. Of course this is your game plan. Visit a LF fan forum, stir up the feces, stand back and giggle and what you caused, then feel sorry for yourself.
Well played. You can do this indefinitely, I think.
The point of the article is that some guy thinks that LW is the most disappointing artist of the last decade. Good for him. I hope he feels better now.
explode itno a supernova of praise…gifted, prescient, well-spoken, and possibly a god on their own world…stir up the feces
Not sure where you are going with this attack and tirade, Tony. Really now, if you reread my well-thought out and thorough comments, there is no such flavor of what you speak. I clearly speak to the fact that I do not agree with everything the author is saying. Your comments, on the other hand, have an even and dark patina that I would not want to convey or have to carry around-they must be so heavy. I am balanced with my fanaticism regardless of the tone that sometimes flavors comments on this “friendly little forum.” Don’t worry, friend, I have big shoulders, a small ego, and can handle flash-fired and mean-spirited criticism regardless of its incessant nature here. Also, there are plenty of people who like to try and bully on this board–so I wouldn’t be so quick to stake a claim to such an honor. I am also more than confident that one of the frequent fliers on this friendly little forum will come to your defense and pile it on higher and deeper. And please, don’t worry about me–I can handle it. Although I really appreciate you trying to interpret and put additional meaning into my posting you unfortunately missed the mark (by a long shot or at least a galaxy or two). As a self-proclaimed super-fan (right–you would consider yourself that?) I am surprised that you could not find even one interesting reflection in the recent article because there are clearly more than one…
This is the “most disappointing” article I’ve ever read. In a time when people should strive to get on with one another, this idiot has the gall to dis Lucinda — there can be no reason for this but for the fact that that guy just “doesn’t get” Lucindas music. It’s easier to criticize than to praise — it’s easier to frown than smile. I’m not going to waste my time trying to prove that guy wrong — he’s not wrong, he just doesn’t get it and probably won’t for the rest of this life. Shoot, I think ballet is weird but I don’t tell the world about it. I’m also full of contradictions, but at least some times I try.By the way David in Maine, you still sound like an a))hole. I think the Filmore 2005 album should be in the top ten rock, blues, country of all time. I love Lucinda and wish David in Maine wouldn”t sound so much like a pompous a)).
Hope I haven’t offended anyone!! PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL !!!!
Ahh, yes, it’s nice to agree to disagree. How can we have peace and love along with name-calling? Sounds like a real dilemma… That aside, glad you like LATF–to my ears, it lacks passion and the recent reviewer nails it when he puts some of the responsibility on the record company. The record does not flow in my opinion and thankfully I know there are other opinions out there as well. In regards to my opinion and stance, not pompous or a**holish rather thoughtfully looking around the world trying to put things into perspective. Sorry that it takes you to the name-calling place. That’s not healthy or parallel with peace, love, and understanding. p.s. Folks, this is a message board and an open friendly forum, from what I remember. And as a matter of fact, I am focusing on the strengths of the recent article as an artistic expression, which was very well written with merit. I could also look at its negatively but it’s too strong (and simply too sharp and hilarious) to do so. It’s a cost of doing business–critics, poporatzi (sp)-it all comes with the territory. Sorry about that. It’s just a reality thing. Kinda like my writing on this friendly little forum–some like it some don’t-it’s a cost of me doing business…Oh by the way–scroll down on the same screen with the LWs article and you will see someone take up the same stance with Steve Earle, so goes it.
Well DiM — I’m just one of the obscure of the huddled masses. Unfortunately, the dilemma you mention is real in our world wouldn’t you say? How do you respond to criticism as damning as the rubbish coming from the “Spectrum Culture”? “When in Rome…..!” I don’t know much about music except how it makes me feel and Lucinda is extra special to my ears. I still think that person at “Spectrum Culture” doesn’t get it (in my inferior opinion)
. So please bear with me as I flounder around on this “message board”. I know that the “Spectrum Culture” people have every right to dis whomever they want.I don’t want to damage the image you are trying to create on this forum. As a matter of fact I applaud your efforts to reach the higher ground, really! I think I lack the education to communicate on that level all the time. Plus, I’ve been in a foul mood all day. Voila!!
Just my humble & friendly little opinion, of course, but I suspect that many artists would prefer being disappointing to some people as opposed to being ignored or deemed irrelevant. The writer of this article clearly holds Lucinda to very high standards. Good luck hitting a home run every at-bat. I’d love to see a list of artists who have exceeded some expert’s expectations over the years.
Thanks, for sharing your thoughts, HS and Lefty. It sure is a complicated and interesting web. Nonetheless, I appreciate the way in which you bring meaning and focus to this dilemma and as with any situation, all of our collective ideas are essential and make up a much more colorful whole. And HS, LWs music is music to my ears that’s for sure. From the first time I heard/saw her in 1989 when she opened up for Graham Parker–and I’d never heard her name, my musical life has never been the same. Side of the Road, Something About What Happens When We Talk, Sharp Cutting Wings, WWT, Right in Time, Get Right With God, Gurf Morlix, Jim Lauderdale, Kenny Vaughn, Charlie Sexton, Bo Ramsey, Smitty Smith, Doug Pettibone–It’s a huge package deal for me. Her lyrics are awesome and I just love her sound. But like Prince or Costello or Dylan, sometimes we have to go mining around for good stuff in some of their albums–like everyone, sometimes they get stuck. Plus, it’s really, really hard for them to hold the bar so high, right?
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