10 Lucinda Williams

Live @ The Fillmore

LOST HIGHWAY 2005, £10

You say: “It has every song I want. There’s an agony in her voice that touches my agony.” Jonny Poynton, via Facebook

Williams’ eighth LP, a double, was recorded live over a threenight stand at the famed San Francisco music venue. “We’ve got the mojo working tonight,” she told the crowd – having been at two of those shows, I can confirm her view. This is not the usual crowd-pleasing, hit-the-ground-running, live album. The setlist included more songs from Essence and World Without Tears than from better-known Car Wheels On A Gravel Road and Lucinda Williams. CD1 begins with three ballads in a row before it gets down and dirty. CD2 takes the opposite approach, starting out rocking, ending with heartbreaker Words Fell. All are excellently played by her pared-to-the bone band.