World Without Tears

Guys are always screwing Williams over. While that sucks for her, it generates great songs: Pedal-steel meditations on loneliness (“Ventura”), growling, bluesy rockers about sin and salvation (“Atonement”), and probably the most heartbreaking goddamn song we’ve ever heard (“Those Three Days”). It’s all delivered in a languid Louisiana drawl, with each “baby” rolling around on Williams’ tongue for what seems like weeks. There’s a reason folks say she’s the best songwriter this side of Bob Dylan: She is.