HOLLY WILLIAMS > Here With Me

Updated:

February 8, 2013 2:16 pm

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All that’s to say that Here With Me isn’t a flashy album, but a modest beauty.

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HOLLY WILLIAMS
Here With Me
(MERCURY NASHVILLE)
[Rating: 3 STARS]

The time last Holly Williams released anything, it wasn’t a country album-not even close. It was, instead, sophisticated, introspective singer/songwriter fare. Whatever caused her change in heart-resurgence of interest in her family’s musical dynasty (Nashville’s Country music Hall of Fame currently has an exhibit on the subject), her life-threatening car wreck or something else-she’s made one now, complete with ambling shuffles, steel guitar and songs about mama and Jesus. And, to her credit, Williams also retained the serious tone of her previous work (seemingly her most natural mode) and didn’t even attempt a drawl, a good call, since she never sang with one before. Williams wrote most of the songs, and she favors acoustic ruminations and quality ballads (album-opener “He’s Making a Fool Out of You” is a fine one). Her willowy voice yearns and sighs, but seldom, if ever, over-sings. All that’s to say that Here With Me isn’t a flashy album, but a modest beauty.