Lost Highway

Blessed is only Lucinda Williams’ tenth studio album in a career that’s now been going for more than three decades. She takes her time carefully crafting her words and melodies, and it pays off; Williams always leaves the listener with a head full of thoughts worth mulling. Blessed isn’t an exception. With Don Was sharing production reins with Eric Liljestrand and Tom Overby (who co-produced 2008’s Little Honey ), Blessed’s 12 songs are powerful and affecting – revealing new riches with each return visit. From the cantankerous opening put-down tune “Buttercup,” through the minimal and moving title song and the fragile “Soldier’s Song” – which brings the cost of war back to the homestead – Williams’ gift for conveying a wide emotional range is front and center. Blessed probably could have used a few less draggy ballads and a couple more rockers, but it’s hard to quibble with a set of songs so wholly realized.