Victoria Williams, Loose — **** (of 4)

Victoria Williams is proving herself to be one of the brightest new

songwriters to come down the track in a good while. Her newest release

features “Crazy Mary,” popularized last year by Pearl Jam, a charming

version of the standard “What a Wonderful World” and a bushel of great new

songs.

The album opens quietly with “Century Plant,” a tale of a late bloomer who

starts seizing the day. “It’s never too late to play the game,” sings

Williams.

The CD swings into a second gear with the uplifting “You R Loved.” This

songs has “classic radio hit” written all over it, though I haven’t heard

it as often as I would have thought.

Williams’ performance of her song “Crazy Mary” paints a poignant picture of

the old woman who lives “on the wrong side of the tracks.” She creates a

mood quite different from Pearl Jam’s ominous cover version.

Williams gets playful on the song “Polish Those Shoes,” throwing in a

variety of children’s songs’ refrains. The song wanders slowly around, then

rises into a bouncy and cheerful chorus. As in all her songs, she tells a

story here. It would make for a wonderful evening if Williams were to tour

with John Prine.

“What a Wonderful World” fits perfectly into this collection. Like a number

of other artists who do this song well, Williams makes it her own, as if it

were written for her.

The Black Crowes, Amorica — ***

A lot of folks roll their eyes at the Black Crowes’ retro style, but you

have to give them credit for sincerity. It isn’t a fad with them — they

like it this way.

The Crowes step away from the catchy machismo of “Hard To Handle” to the

honest grit of “Gone,” the first track on Amorica. Chris Robinson

sounds like he’s been hurt — he’s mad as hell and he isn’t going to take

it anymore.

It’s easy to imagine the first single, “Conspiracy,” in rotation on

“Classic Rock” stations 20 years from now. Robinson’s lyrics are strongest

on “High Head Blues,” at once both introspective and anthemic. The song

jumps from the easy rhythmic style that dominates the album to a pounding

guitar chorus, kicking off a bona fide Southern Rock jam at the end. Also

notable is the song “Downtown Money Waster.” It wins for the lines, “You

got a .38 and your book of revelations/ I got a .44 and a lead of

temptation.”

All in all, the album is easy to listen to. The songwriting is strong and

the music, hinting at blues, country and good-old rock all at once, is

relaxed and warm. While it doesn’t break any new ground, the sincerity and

rich lyrical content on this CD make for a respectable offering.