‘Little Honey’, Lucinda Williams’ new album is not without a missteps, and the news can be quite worrying for the longtime fans of Williams. Though some songs like the Stonesy rocker ‘Real Love’, as well as ballad ‘Plan to Marry’ are instantly likeable, others like ‘Rarity’ and ‘Little Rock Star’ practically are the tell-tale signs of doomed musicians.

Williams, supposed to be the patron saint of broken hearts, has got engaged to Tom Overby, her manager and the CD’s co-producer. With her romantic bliss shining through in ‘Real Love’, to actually hear that Lucinda has found ‘real love’ is somewhat unsettling for those who have depended on her tales of loneliness and regret to survive through the periods of emotional turmoil.

Thirty seconds into Williams’ new album, she sings, “I found the love I’ve been looking for - It’s a real love.”  

Her most assorted CD ranges from the snarling garage rock of ‘Honey Bee’ to the horn-laced soul chant ‘Knowing’. Stumbling a bit with ‘It’s a Long Way to the Top’, Williams regains her footing with Elvis Costello on the instant country classic ‘Jailhouse Tears’.  

Williams’ band, Buick 6, initially has guitars and drums racing off in different directions, and the timing all off. However, they soon appear to realize their error, stop a while, collect themselves, and launch back. When Buick 6 finally get it right, what initially sounded like a mess seems like a ‘glorious’ mess!

‘Little Honey’, like her past albums has slow, introspective tracks mixed with the occasional up-tempo rock track. This time around, Williams does not let the predictability that often accompanies falling in love seep into her music, and lets the music create the mood of the songs rather than the lyrics.

With many of the slow tracks sound like her earlier tales of loneliness, it takes a better hearing to the lyrics to realize that the songs reveal a happy Williams. When she lets loose and lets it rock, it spells glory all the way!