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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

World Without Tears
by Lucinda Williams


8.8

based on 18 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 21 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

Recorded live in studio with her band and co-produced by Mark Howard, 'World Without Tears' marks the follow-up to Williams' acclaimed 2001 release 'Essence.'

LABEL:	Lost Highway
RELEASE DATE:	08 April 2003
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Alt-Country, Rock, Folk

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

E! Online

Williams' captivating lyrics are gut-wrenchingly intimate.

100

Uncut

It's the most extraordinary smorgasbord of styles, moods, modes, a far more daring, jolting record than 2001's Essence. [Album of the Month, May 2003, p.88]

100

Entertainment Weekly

A perfectly imperfect set, it's looser, blowsier, and more what-the-hell? than anything she's done.

100

Mojo

It is all heart, it is truth and it is beautiful. [Jun 2003, p.94]

100

Spin

While Essence was lyrically spare, World marks Williams' return to the painful sensuality of the specific. [May 2003, p.109]

100

PopMatters

World Without Tears is a complex, multifaceted album that musically highlights Williams's continued blurring of musical genres and poetic lyrics.

Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

A band record, a groove record, a riff record; something lowdown, dirty, smoky.

Billboard

She is simply magnificent.

All Music Guide

It is simply the bravest, most emotionally wrenching record she's ever issued.

Launch.com

World Without Tears... is the singer-songwriter's rawest album to date -- it's often closer to all-out rock than it is to either alt-country or the singer-songwriter tradition -- and it's also her best release so far.

Amazon.com

There's more Patti Smith in her than there is Patsy Cline.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

It's an album filled with appetites and their consequences.

Blender

Unlike 2001's spare Essence, this album prickles with the lyrical details that make Williams's work exceptional. [#15, p.126]

Q Magazine

She sounds gloriously rough-edged and authentic. [May 2003, p.114]

Austin Chronicle

Williams continues taking chances, lyrically and stylistically, but with a success rate that would only be acceptable of someone with less songwriting talent.

Rolling Stone

Musically, it's as superb as anything she's ever done.... But underneath the sublime sounds, something crucial is missing.

Neumu.net

She remains utterly, excessively self-involved.

Trouser Press

Beyond the musical unevenness of an album whose finer qualities interleave those mounting miscalculations, a rising suspicion that misery is of more comfort to her than happiness makes the tenor of Williams' songs increasingly hard to bear.

The average user rating for this album is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Russ gave it a9:
The beginning of the album is strong as i've ever heard. The first 6 songs just flow, but then, Atonement starts and just jars me. Gotta skip it every time. The rest of the album is rather uneven with both highs and lows. Still worth owning for the majority of the standout tracks. Just skip the ones you might not like.

Brian K gave it a10:
her best? it's a toss up between Car Wheels on a Gravel Road and this album. She is truly an amazing performer and songwriter.

Jim L gave it a9:
Great! Harder rocking.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
the best album i've ever heard

Jon H gave it a 10:
another wonderful record from Lucinda.

Nancy B gave it a 10:
I have listened to all her CDs an feel this one is the best. A sincere purging with in the depths of emotions. Striking the core of reality of those whom ever walked in a river of pain and abuse.

Gina P gave it a 10:
Its like a cannibal has ripped this straight out of her chest. Could possibly reduce you to tears. i think its brilliant, the best yet.

World Without Tears by Lucinda Williams

World Without Tears
by Lucinda Williams