“Stories from a rock’n’roll heart”
lucinda williams
Highway 20 / Endless / Popstock!
rock-folk
★★★★
Stories from a rock’n’roll heart captures a resilient artist who threads life, struggle, and sound into a powerful musical narrative. The album showcases lucinda williams drawing from deep wells of inspiration and the mystery of how songs take shape. It is a life-affirming project, wrapped in a quiet triumph that follows a careful, disciplined creative process.
The collection emerges from real storms: a home torn apart by a hurricane, the global upheaval of covid-19, and a severe stroke in November 2020 that briefly challenged mobility on the left side. Yet the artist returned to the stage within weeks, proving that performance and perseverance can coexist. Audiences could witness this comeback on stages like the Azkena Rock Festival, where determination spoke as loudly as music itself.
Williams appears wounded but unbroken, a guitarist who has faced adversity with candor. At seventy, she still speaks with the grit and honesty that define her as a writer. The album nods to classic rock energies with a nod to bands like The Stones and The Faces, while inviting collaborations from friends and peers who share a love for storytelling through sound, including Margo Price and Buddy Miller.
art available
The record reverently recalls the music that first drew the artist to guitar-based storytelling at a young age. Tracks like “Rock’n’roll Heart” speak to a working-class upbringing in a city under pressure, conferring purpose through craft and voice. The message resonates with listeners who believe in the power of emotion translated into song. A sense of yearning echoes through moments that recall Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, notably in “New York return,” a standout piece that evokes late-night streets and shared memories.
Across the album, Williams threads intimate melodies with narrative poise. The vocals in the Jukebox sequence carry a warm echo, with Angel Olsen providing a second voice that deepens the texture. The track “Where the Song Finds Me” turns a simple line into a poetic turn, while “Stolen Moments” and “Hum’s Liqueur” reach back to friendships and influences from the past, including Tom Petty and Bob Stinson of The Replacements. The arrangements balance mid-tempo grooves with careful explorations of acoustic strings and pedal steel, guided by seasoned collaborators: Steve Ferrone on drums, Reese Wynans on keyboards, and a bass lineage tied to iconic chart histories.
As the album culminates with the track “It Will Never Fade,” the listener is drawn into a dialogue with depression and resilience. The sentiment echoes the enduring line from Neil Young, a reminder that art can persist through struggle and continue to teach. The overall arc speaks to a veteran artist who carries a lifetime of experience into new songs, inviting listeners to meet the person behind the voice and the craft behind the chorus.
Other albums of the week
‘THIRST’
weird love triangle
mushroom pillow
Source
★★★★
Following a bold opening track that shifts between the expansive and the intimate, this Galician quartet’s exploration dives into contrasts. The production pierces through layers of noise with a distinct voice that channels epic scope and raw energy. The commentary on fame and industry pressure anchors the record, offering a thoughtful look at ambition through a raw, electric lens.
‘On pain’
Lloyd Cole
Edel / Ear Music
pop-electronic
★★★★
Known for shaping the singer-songwriter tradition in the 1980s, Cole’s mellow blend of lyric craft and electronic textures remains compelling. His work circles themes of memory and modern life, with collaborations that heighten the textures and emotion. Listeners will find a reflective voice that refines the balance between pop charm and studio experimentation, inviting discoveries that echo classic influences while staying firmly contemporary.
“The Omnicord Truth Book”
Meshell Ndegeocello
blue note
Pop
★★★
In this intimate release, Ndegeocello confesses, explores identity, and circles personal wounds with honesty. The album ventures into Afrofuturist territory on tracks like “Virgo,” while partnerships with jazz pianist Jason Moran and singer Joan as Police Woman broaden the musical landscape. The result is a candid, boldly textured collection that thrives on emotional honesty and layered rhythms, inviting listeners to listen closely and reflect deeply.