Abandoning the lush orchestral backdrops that dominated most of Loose, Victoria Williams expands her musical skills on Musings of a Creekdipper, finding an original, eclectically rural sound that enhances the off-center originality of her songs. Producing the album with Trina Shoemaker, Williams has found a collection of sounds and styles that makes the record her most ambitious so far. For the most part, her experiments work, whether it’s the cellos and coronets of “Periwinkle Sky” or Wendy & Lisa’s drum loops on “Train Song (Demise of the Caboose).” What really holds the album together is Williams’ songwriting, which remains consistently impressive, both in lyrical and musical terms. There are a few numbers that don’t quite work, but they only illustrate that Williams’ best efforts are quirky but graceful folk-rock gems. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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