More audiophile reviews by Ted King

West
—Lucinda Williams
Longing, that's what Ms. Williams wears on her flannel sleeves. She's a troubadour with a country voice and the soul of a rocker. Raised primarily in the American South, her voice twangs with sincerity. This album carries on many of the traditions of her previous CDs, with rich lyrics, repetitive cadences and deep pain in her voice. Although not as fresh and inspired as her modern classic "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road," there are a number of outstanding tracks for those looking for a dusty path to walk down … alone and reflective. 

Not Too Late
—Norah Jones

At first listen, this sounds stylistically like the first two Norah Jones records.  The signature sound is there with sweet vocals, relaxed tempos and not too many extremes. The welcome difference, however, lies in its subtlety. It's unusual that an artist like Ms. Jones isn't trying to reinvent herself on her third recording; instead, she's working to master her jazz/country domain. For the first time, she writes or co-writes every song and they are beautiful, complex, political and darker than preceding recordings. That's a welcome change.

Classic Corner
I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You
—Aretha Franklin

Mmm, mmm, mmm. Soul like it was sent directly from heaven. This is a spectacularly defining album, both for Ms. Franklin and the entire soul genre. Classics like "Respect" and "Do Right Woman — Do Right Man" are on this CD, but don't miss the hidden gems that will make blood temperatures rise, like "Drown In My Own Tears" and "A Change is Gonna Come." These are songs of female independence and truth that are as inspiring as when they were recorded in 1967.

This article originally appearred in the March 20, 2007 issue of Soap Opera Digest.