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WATER TO DRINK
Victoria Williams
(Atlantic / Warner)
A confession: We once left a Victoria Williams show because her sloppy style -- stopping songs in mid-stream, telling endless stories about her dog, constantly retuning her guitar -- was too annoying. While that unpretentious openness is the very thing that endears her to many fans, we've always preferred her studio work, where she's focused, inspired and often riveting. And never more so than on Water to Drink, a sweet little masterpiece that's easily her finest disc. Roaming through styles from chamber-folk and country-pop to Latin lounge, Williams (aided by ex-Jayhawk hubby Mark Olson and a crack ensemble) lays down rich, lush tracks that provide a perfect pillowy cushion for her idiosyncratic, little-girl voice. It's hard to decide what's stronger -- the earthy, mystical joy of originals like Memphis soul groove Gladys and Lucy and the shoo-be-doo-be gypsy jazzer Claude, or her dreamy, loving covers like the title track (an Anton Carlos Jobim bossa nova) or Until the Real Thing Comes Along, on which she channels Billie Holiday via Rickie Lee Jones. Drink deep -- Water is so sweet, we just might give live Vic another try at her West End gig Oct. 4.
Track Listing
1.Grandma's Hat Pin
02.Gladys and Lucy
03.Water To Drink
04.Light The Lamp Freddie
05.Claude
06.Joy Of Love
07.Until The Real Thing Comes Along
08.Lagniappe
09.Junk
10.Little Bird
11.Young At Heart
12.A Little Bit Of Love