Review: Lucinda Williams – World’s Gone Wrong
Lucinda Williams – World’s Gone Wrong
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Highway 20 Records
Release: 2026
Text: Bert van Kessel
73-year-old Lucinda Williams from Louisiana is one of those old guns, whose every new release still stirs in many of us that familiar feeling of excitement and expectation. And the Queen of Americana does deliver with this latest release, a true masterpiece! She has released a consistent flow of high-quality, intensely personal albums ever since her global breakthrough in 1998 with ‘Car Wheels on A Gravel Road.’
This new album, her 16th and again released on her own Highway 20 label, surely equals that one. She comments militantly on our world in decay, she encourages us to face the mayhem and make the best of things; The stroke that hit her in 2020 has added a touch of vulnerability to her vocals which are still exceptionally forceful; and so is her rocking band: she has two excelllent guitarists in her old buddy Doug Pettibone and new signing Marc Ford from the Black Crowes . One-time Emmylou Harris drummer Brady Blades is, as always, an inspiration and keyboard player Rob Burger adds loads of driving impulses. Al this musicality is bound together in a tight co-production of Ray Kennedy (who else?) and Tom Overby.
The aggressive, Stones-like rock of the opening title track is a fine specimen of the Americana meets rock of this album; on vocals Lucinda gets support from the talented Brittney Spencer. The great vocals draw the listener ruthlessly into this gripping song. It seamlessly melts into the next track Something’s Gotta Give, on which the angry guitars provide the same two vocalists with muscular support.
Low Life is slow and sad, featuring Mickey Raphael on a moaning harmonica; in it Lucinda pays tribute to that one bar where one finds consolation in the jukebox and a strong drink. The biting lyrics of How Much Did You Get For Your Soul (Are you listening Donald?) are wrapped in a surprisingly upbeat melody. Bob Marley’s So Much Trouble In The World Is a powerful,lazy reggae tune, a duet with soul legend Mavis Staples. It goes straight into the heart. Fortunately we then get some enlightenment with the ZZ Top groove of Sing Unburied Sing.
The organ excels in the hardcore blues of Black Tears in which she lashes out against the current racism in the USA. It also features some mighty fine slide guitar. Punchline is another dark blues in which her Southern drawl shines pervasively. In Freedom Speaks Lucinda speaks out in anger and urges us to stand up and fight. On the spiritual closing track We’ve Come Too Far to Turn Around, Norah Jones gathers with Lucinda around a beautiful, plaintive,piano leaving us listeners stunned with so much emotional power.
And we know, no matter how devastating the misery, Lucinda Williams is always there to console and support us. And she does so masterfully.
Tracks:
01. The World’s Gone Wrong (feat. Brittney Spencer)
02. Something’s Gotta Give (feat. Brittney Spencer)
03. Low Life
04. How Much Did You Get For Your Soul
05. So Much Trouble In The World (feat. Mavis Staples)
06. Sing Unburied Sing
07. Black Tears
08. Punchline
09. Freedom Speaks
10. We’ve Come Too Far To Turn Around (feat. Norah Jones)
Website: https://www.lucindawilliams.com/