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On Lucinda Williams’ last album, West, we were taken through misery after misery – a boatload of “what ifs” until you started to wonder if she would ever write another happy song. Of course, Williams is known for sad, angry songs, which I don’t have a problem with – it’s just so nice to hear her voice filled with joy on her latest offering, Little Honey.
“Real Love” gets things rocking and rolling, which is Little Honey’s “Right in Time,” the tune that famously led off her acclaimed Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Williams is in a good mood here, singing about who “shakes her peaches,” which would be her fiancé, Tom Overby, who also helped produce the record. “Little Rock Star” asks the tough questions (Will you ever do the things you’re afraid to do?), while the rawness of “Honey Bee” digs deep into Williams’ rough Louisiana pipes and screeches down the road in glory. “If Wishes Were Horses” is a gentle gem that reminds me of a mature “Lake Charles,” remembering the past, and looking to the hopeful future. I just hope the future keeps a smile on Lucinda Williams’ face.
