Customer Reviews

Musings of a Creekdipper

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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Get past Vic's creaky, out-of-tune voice and you'll be rewarded. In fact, on Musings of a Creekdipper, Williams' voice becomes a boon for the songs; on this album she is less the wise wandering troubadour than a cheery grandmother telling wonderful, uplifting stories from memory, without any tinge of pretense, just beautifully woven folktales filled with images and poetry, helped along by a stellar cast of support players (including the sorely missed Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman) and Trina Shoemaker's diverse, rich production.

"Periwinkle Sky" is like a bedtime story with its buoyant melody and spirited lyrics; "Train Song" evokes the screeching wheels of an old locomotive and even imitates that slight crankiness that old folks can carry when recounting social changes they disapprove of; and "Let It Be So" is an affecting song about devotion (written by Williams for a wedding), with astonishing vocal harmonies and a quiet musical backdrop that evokes the feel of mature, relaxed romantic desire perfectly.

I have followed Victoria Williams for years... mostly because of her her music and also because I share her MS dragon. With "Musings" Victoria delivers the message of 'celebrate the miracles all around you... NOW!' Everytime I listen to it, I feel like I'm headed down a very active river, full of rocks, rapids, calms, fish, rain and sunshine. It's not sappy. It's comes across as an authentic message from someone who practices what she preaches.

I bought this album on a whim, and for the first few listens I found it very difficult. On the one hand, it verged on exhilaration, on the other Williams' voice sounds almost broken. But then that broken, little-girl voice grows on you...

Vic has gained my appreciatiation in so many ways: From her wonderful duet with David Pirner on "Loose" to her spirit-rising "Lights" to her insistance at a concert in St. Paul that the audience not clap for her but rather for "that little cloud up ther - it's so pretty!" Victoria will make you smile, and "Musings" is no exception. For the rookie listener, her unique voice will cheer you up alone, and - for the veteran Vic fan - she takes her rhythms and wonderful instrumental arrangements to a whole new plane. Way to go, Victoria Williams!