ARE YOU ALRIGHT - LUCINDA WILLIAMS
The lead single from “West,” Lucinda Williams’ first studio album in four years, is a lonely slow dance mourning the loss of a loved one who suddenly disappeared without saying goodbye. Gently touching on country, blues and gospel, the rootsy Louisiana singer/songwriter sings with her trademark wounded vocals, accompanied by spare, tremolo-washed guitar leads that sneak gracefully across the bittersweet tune. Honest, sad and soulful, “Are You Alright” echoes the naked confessions of “Essence,” released in 2001, and has the late-night intimacy of a postcard written in an empty bar after 2 a.m. Its simple, aching beauty affirms Williams as a unique and fearlessly independent artist. Billboard
