Customer Reviews
Outstanding - on a par with Pet Sounds - By: Jonathan Clark, 04 Feb 2008 
I'm new to this genre & I have got into Miranda Lambert & Gretchen Wilson & although I don't buy his political persuasion, Toby Keith.
I bought West & wasn't impressed but Car Wheels is something else. Maybe because I'm new to this brand of music I'm suckered but I really think that this is such a stand out CD that it merits huge praise. I've heard that it was a perfectionist effort - hence the Pet Sounds analogy - & if so it works. Rightin Time & Joy -two very different pices are addictive. Maybe this is a one-offin which case play it to death.
Can't hear what the fuss is about. Really - By: H. Popeck, 23 Jan 2008 
Pleasant, but very far from exceptional. Played the CD a few times before selling it on. No stand-out tracks for me at all. All pretty bland. But then again, it is possible that I'm not fullyin tune with this type of music. I'm still left with the impression that this is the end result of marketing over mediocrity though.
She brought back my Joy - By: joolsm, 30 May 2007 I am absolutely new to Lucinda Williams after discovering her through a great cover of JOY by Betty Lavette.
Went out & bought this album. I have to say it is a classic - there are just no weak tracks - no filler - anywhere. I listen to all sorts of music - on playlist at the moment is Mercury Rev, Tool & Rufus Wainwright. Varied I think you would agree - Lucinda Williams' talent stands up to all of them.
My only dilemma is which of her albums to get next. The songwriting, singing & musicianship are top class.
I see there are a couple of reviewers who don't get this album - all I can say is I feel sorry for them.
Perhaps its being a bloke but that edgy drawlin Lucinda's voice just does me in. Move over Hank Williams there's a new kid on the block.
Brilliantly evocative swamp rock / country / folk masterpice - By: Peter Lawrence, 27 Aug 2006 Some albums evoke a particular time, others have a distinct mood & some are strongly rootedin a particular place. "Car wheels.." is a great example of the latter. The placein question happens to be the rural south of the USA (Louisiana, Mississippi & east Texas) which is the area where Lucinda Williams grew up. You don't however need to be familair with any of these places to enjoy this record which, whilst at times deeply personal, deals with universal themesin a very direct & honest way.
Although it sounds very spontaneous & live, getting this album together actually took 6 years. Many of the songs deal with Lucinda's at times tough upbringing "A little bit of dirt mixed with tears" & sometimes tempestuous relationships "Empty bottles & broken glass, busted down doors & borrowed cash". The mood however is on the whole hopeful & defiant rather than dour or sentimental.
To describe LW as a country singer can be misleading - her brand of country is stylistically (if not geographically) a long way from Nashville. Sometimes dubbed the female Keith Richards, she may strum an accoustic guitar but she does it until her fingers bleed & her voice is just like the places she describes - parched, cracked & gritty. You can almost smell the whisky & taste the dust.
With its crisp muscianship, spare arrangements & catchy choruses, this is a great album to sing along toin the car with the sun roof down. It captures a great American singer-songwriter at the very peak of her powers.
Outstanding - By: Neil Clough, 16 Aug 2006 This was the first album I bought by Lucinda Williams & it remains one of my favourites. It started me off buying all her records & I don't regret it at all. Her songs & her singing are simply of the highest order. She covers the full range of human emotionin her lyrics & her voice is always a perfect match. Listen & be enchanted by one of the finest musical artists alive.
