Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
by Lucinda Williams

"The Greatest American Album of All Time" (as one commentator here would have it)?? I don't know about that.... I kindly doubt it... But it's a rare gem, that's for sure.... as is Lucinda herself.... Me, I'd give slightly higher marks to her s/t debut, while her "Essence" and "World Without Tears" are excellent too.... but the double disc "Live at the Fillmore" takes the cake for me.... I've seen her live several times... was able to give her my heartfelt regards and my cowboy hat in K.C. at intermission ....For me the Fillmore album's the best album from Lucinda.... She's got a killer rocking band behind her on that date with an amazing lead guitar, and she sounds kinda wasted, rough, and ready to brawl... Listen to that f*cked-up vers. of "Essence" followed up by "Bleeding Fingers".... Don't know bout you, but gives me chills and makes me wanna pop one too many beers....

From drivebytornado 03/02/2013 04:58 | #66632 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Not just one of the best alt-country albums ever made, but one of the best albums of all time.

It took Lucinda 6 years to write and record this one, and I'd be more than happy waiting 6 years in between her records if they could be close to this good.

I was introduced to this one the same night as Todd Snider - and changed the direction of my music listening forever.

Not going to mention songs, as they are all great. About as perfect as an album can be.

Car wheels on a gravel road, is one of the greatest country rock albums ever, and Lucinda Williams best. It's a stunning record full of great songs including, right in time, I lost it, and, metal firecracker, which is my favourite track here. It's a gritty, sweaty, and passionate record and everyone should have a copy. Essential.

From Mercury TOP 100 COMMENTER 12/01/2014 07:05 | #128398 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

I really love an album like this, where it's like stepping into another person's life and feeling and empathizing with their struggles, and their emotions, and their thoughts. I'd say listening to this album is like being with Lucinda or at least being right there with a character or series of characters she's created. Being there on a road trip through life and places. And Lucinda paints such vivid pictures of these people. Whether she is talking about love, loss, life, work, sex or whatever, it always feels articulate and real.

And the rest of the album vibes with the stunning lyrics. Musically it's just an incredibly well made and emotional blend of blues, rock, folk and country of different kinds. At times soft, burdened and forlornly quiet, other times it's airy and sweet and at other times it's heavy and angry and not taking any shit.

Also god damn I love Lucinda's voice! The way it cracks and aches and feels. She is clearly one of the greatest and most seasoned veteran singer-songwriters out there. And every second of this album shows how much of an icon she is and why. I can't recommended this album enough.

Wow, a great album from start to finish, one of my favorites, every song is solid.
2 Kool 2 Be Forgotten is what i call a riff song, where the same riff is repeated over and over. This sounds simple but to be good, it needs to strike a primal chord. REM is great at these songs and this is a prefect example. Like 12 bars is to blues, I think the best rock is sometimes captured in the simplest of riffs.
I read Lucinda was not happy with how perfected and polished the original version was so she tried to dirty it up some. I gather she did and it still seems fairly polished, and just right - leave it alone folks.