Lucinda Williams "West" comes out next week, but in the meantime, I've been listening to Rosanne Cash - "Black Cadillac", Joan Osborne - "Pretty Little Stranger" and just got Shelby Lynne - "Suit Yourself".

All great CDs, not quite country, though Joan Osborne does throw in one traditional sounding country tune. Her best songs are her own compositions, like "Devil on My Tail" and "Dead Roses" (Sonny Landreth helps out on that one...). The Nashville backing fits like a glove! Shelby Lynne's is pretty spare, her guitar and voice doing most of the work. I like it better with each listen... a keeper!

Good alternates! :yes:

Shelby Lynne's album "I Am Shelby Lynne" is one of the best albums I have ever heard in my entire life. I highly recommend it!

Love Shelby! "Restless" gets regular play by both me and SWMBO.

Shelby Lynne's album "I Am Shelby Lynne" is one of the best albums I have ever heard in my entire life. I highly recommend it!

Interesting. I bought it on the strength of one song I'd heard ("Life is Bad") and a glowing review somewhere (Stereophile, maybe). I was really disappointed.

I picked up the new Patty Grffin:Children Running Through to tide me over for the West album. You should check it out.

No need to wait for Wait's Lucinda…

Tom Waits - Lucinda lyrics
(from Orphans)

Well they call me William The Pleaser
I sold opium, fireworks and lead
Now I'm telling my troubles to strangers
When the shadows get long I'll be dead

Now her hair was as black as a bucket of tar
Skin was as white as a cuttlefish bone
I left Texas to follow Lucinda
Now I'll never see heaven or home

I made a wish on silver of moonlight
A sly grin and a bowl full of stars
Like a kid who captures a firefly
And leaves it only to die in the jar

As I kick at the clouds at my hanging
As I swing out over the crowd
I will search every face for Lucinda's
And she will go off with me down to hell

I thought I'd broke loose of Lucinda
The rain returned and so did the wind
I cast this burden on the god that's within me
I leave this old world and go free

The devil dances inside empty pockets
But she never wanted money or pearls
No, that wasn't enough for Lucinda
She wasn't that kind of girl

Now I've fallen from grace for Lucinda
Whoever thought that hell would be so cold
I did well for an old tin can sailor
But she wanted the bell in my soul

I've spoken to God on the mountain
And I've swam in the Irish sea
I ate fire and drank from the Ganges
And I'll beg there for mercy for me

I thought I'd broke loose of Lucinda
The rain returned and so did the wind
I was standing outside the Whitehorse
Oh but I was afraid to go in

I heard someone pull the trigger
Her breasts heaved in the moonlight again
There was a smear of gold in the window
And then I was the jewel of her sin

They call me William The Pleaser
I sold opium, fireworks and lead
Now I'm telling my troubles to strangers
When the shadows get long I'll be dead

Now her hair was as black as a bucket of tar
Skin was as white as a cuttlefish bone
I left Texas to follow Lucinda
Now I'll never see heaven or home
No I'll never see heaven or home
No I'll never see heaven or home

Lucinda Williams opened for Neil Young a few years ago when he was doing his Greendale tour. I saw the show at The Saratoga Preforming Arts Center. I enjoyed her performance more than Neil's. My wife thought I was crazy. Come to think of it, she's always thought that....

Picked up "West" today. Had a $5 coupon at Best Buy. Plus it was on sale for $9.99. Grand total with sales tax was $5.29. Not too shabby for a new ceedee. And, this has a second disc with a couple of bonus tracks.

I'll be spinning it later this afternoon.

I've been listening to West and like it a lot.

And just 40 minutes ago I got 4 tickets to see her in Minneapolis... 13th row!

I picked up the new Patty Grffin:Children Running Through to tide me over for the West album. You should check it out.

I haven't got Patty's latest, but everything she has done is fantastic. Time to make a trip to the store.:yes: :thmbsp: