Now 63 years of age, Lucinda Williams is back with her 12th studio album. Like a fine wine that gets better with age, Williams has crafted another classic album. Full of country-infused folk tunes, inspired by people, time and place, The Ghosts of Highway 20 shows that Williams has nailed the art of storytelling.
Commencing with the six and a half minute epic Dust, the 14-track album builds to a crescendo that leaves you on a massive high and craving more. Built around an old Woody Guthrie poem, House of Earth is a sorrowful emotive track, sure to send shivers down your spine. On I Know All About It, Williams’s vocals shift to another level, giving the track a sultry, jazzy feel.
The record’s boosted by the talents of legendary guitarists Greg Leisz and Bill Frisell, who have played with Williams for years and are true masters at work. The majority of songs last for at least six minutes, which lets the arrangement breathe and the intimate and lush instrumentation sweep you away.
With 12 studio albums under the belt, The Ghosts of Highway 20 proves Williams still has many more stories to tell. An impressive follow up to Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone, it’s certainto take prime place in many album of the year lists.
BY TEX MILLER
