In the Company of Strangers

In the Company of Strangers

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here's a perplexing mystery of the Americana scene: Why the devil isn't this Virginia-based duo as well known as tradition-minded singer-songwriters Lucinda Williams, Iris DeMent, and Greg Brown? Judging from In the Company of Strangers, Robin and Linda Williams are every bit their equals. Contrary to the title, these 11 original songs (plus an exquisite cover of "Cold, Cold Heart") find the twosome surrounded by longtime friends Kevin Maul (Dobro and pedal steel), Tim O'Brien (fiddle and mandolin), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Mary Chapin Carpenter (harmonies), and Stuart Gunter (drums). The songs are loving studies in the art of personal but universal songcraft: cliché-bucking lyrics of sorrowful but inevitable departure, spiritual hope, and lessons found on life's hardest journeys. Sung and played with the effortless intuition of musicians who've immersed themselves in the many streams of American roots music, this is a wholly satisfying work of melodic country and time-defying folk art. --Roy Kasten

Tracks:

The Hard Country
So It Go
Rumble
Sometime Tomorrow
So Long, See You Tomorrow
Bar Band In Hillbilly Heaven
Allow It
This Is The Real Thing
The Perfect Country Song
Some Peculiar Beast
Cold, Cold Heart
In The Company Of Strangers

Amazon.com

Here's a perplexing mystery of the Americana scene: Why the devil isn't this Virginia-based duo as well known as tradition-minded singer-songwriters Lucinda Williams, Iris DeMent, and Greg Brown? Judging from In the Company of Strangers, Robin and Linda Williams are every bit their equals. Contrary to the title, these 11 original songs (plus an exquisite cover of "Cold, Cold Heart") find the twosome surrounded by longtime friends Kevin Maul (Dobro and pedal steel), Tim O'Brien (fiddle and mandolin), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Mary Chapin Carpenter (harmonies), and Stuart Gunter (drums). The songs are loving studies in the art of personal but universal songcraft: cliché-bucking lyrics of sorrowful but inevitable departure, spiritual hope, and lessons found on life's hardest journeys. Sung and played with the effortless intuition of musicians who've immersed themselves in the many streams of American roots music, this is a wholly satisfying work of melodic country and time-defying folk art. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

Best ever.......2000-09-18

This is Robin and Linda's best ever (I've been buying their recordings since you could get them on vinyl). "Hard Country" is worth the price of the CD by itself, with Linda's throaty voice accompanied by the flawless musicianship of the players they've assembled for this effort. But after leading off with such a terrific song, the CD only improves. Great recording, well engineered and superbly performed.

Fantastic!.......2000-05-20

What a great CD. The quality of the recording is wonderful, but best of all is the amazingly great storytelling.

This is a subtle change for the Williams - they have a complete band (including the members of The Fine Group!) - even percussion!

I strongly suggest the addition of this great CD to your collection!

No Strangers in my House.......2000-03-10

I have all of the Williams Sugar Hill releases, and this latest one follows their twenty-year pattern of fine lyrics wedded to terrific singing and playing. This release is a bit more country-ish in feel due to fiddle whizzes Stuart Duncan and Tim O'Brien joining doborist Kevin Maul. Stuart Gunter's drumming gives the sound some punch. But what has always distinguished this underrated duo is their superb harmonizing and Linda's awesome voice. Her rendition of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart" would thaw a wooly mammoth. The Williams are also superb lyrcists, augmented by Jerome Clark. "The Hard Country,' "Rumble," and "Some Peculiar Beast" address the great mystery of fate and the devil at war in the human heart. Country music used to address such issues, oh, about thirty years ago, I guess. The Williams do it without cliche and they make it sound both universal and contemporary. I'm glad they keep making this kind of music for those of us who are not interested in the flashy dregs that pass as country artists these days.