LUCINDA WILLIAMS Blessed (2011 UK 12-track CD album - Considered by many to be one of America's greatest living songwriters, Lucinda Williams lives up to that and more by delivering 12 new songs that cover an even wider emotional spectrum than her previous work, without moving too far in any one direction. 'Blessed' opens with the gritty kiss-off 'Buttercup' then moves seamlessly into the sultry blues of 'Born To Be Loved'. Williams delves into a heavier subject as she questions the motives for a suicide on the hard-driving 'Seeing Black', which features blistering guitar from Elvis Costello. The thoughtful title track slowly builds to a melodic climax as it offers an eye-opening look at what's right in front of us, but too often unnoticed. The poignant and powerful 'Soldier's Song' simultaneously tells a tragic story of the soldier overseas and his wife and child back home. On the gorgeous 'Kiss Like Your Kiss', Williams lays down one of the most beautiful and fragile vocals she has ever recorded. Produced by Don Was, 'Blessed' features special guests Rami Jaffe on keyboards, Matthew Sweet on vocals Greg Leisz and Elvis Costello on guitar).