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Promised Land

by: Dar Williams

September 09, 2008
I had never heard of Dar Williams before hearing an interview with her on NPR. Intrigued by the pieces of songs played as part of that interview, I bought Promised Land.

It contains a wonderfully varied set of songs, all with interesting settings and well sung. Williams has a wonderful voice that she uses well to enhance both the sound her music and the meaning behind the lyrics -- although sometimes that makes it hard to hear the exact words. I quickly found myself singing parts of them to myself during the day, Some, like "The Business of Things" can really stay with you.

As a university professor of psychology, I was bowled over the first time I heard "Buzzer." I can think of know other recording based on a psychology ... Read More:

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Mortal City

by: Dar Williams

January 23, 1996
I discovered Dar Williams on a folk station on launchcast that I selected by accident. "The Christians and the Pagans," happened to be the first song to come on and I have been hooked ever since. Her voice is great, but what really drew me was her songwriting. Even songs like Christians and Pagans, which would seem to be just a fun song on the outside, has sly drop-ins like references to candy canes made with red dye #3!

The whole disc is really solid but other than the aforementioned "The Christians and the Pagans," my favorite song on the disc is "February."

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Cry Cry Cry

from: Razor & Tie

October 13, 1998
I can't say enough good things about this collection. I've been listening to it for ages and still find it as beautiful as I did when I bought it. There are some familiar songs here for me, and I wondered if they'd be able to add anything to such great songs- but they have. Their harmonies are lovely; this music soars. It's a nearly perfect CD.

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The Beauty of the Rain

by: Dar Williams

February 18, 2003
Not sure about this one. She has a lot of talent. I've been listening to her music since her cover of Better Things off of The End of the Summer, which was very good. What do you hear in these sounds? is one of the best songs about therapy I've EVER heard

But most of the songs here don't really leave much of an impression. Closer to you is a good song, nice and catchy. But a lot of this music is incredibly sad, or at the very least melancholy

You gotta give her points for doing the Bands Whispering Pines, but a lot of these songs don't really move me, and most of the songs I never really wanna hear again

I'm sorry

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The Honesty Room

by: Dar Williams

February 21, 1995
This is a classic Dar album. Solid folk guitar over quirky, fun lyrics. A must have for Dar fans, folk fans, or girl rockers!

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End of the Summer

by: Dar Williams

July 15, 1997
Himes writes that the song "End Of The Summer" is Dar at her "dreary, maudlin, worst". Well, he certainly missed the beauty of that piece, didn't he? Too bad for him, it is one of the most moving songs I know. The title track captures perfectly a wistful, pensive state of mind when you know that a whole season of being care-free in bare feet is rapidly coming to a close. A song that can capture that feeling that this transitional season brings out in may of us seems to me a rare achievement. The lines "And I feel like the neighbor's girl who will never be the same" and "I passed the farms that made it through the last days of the century", strike such a particularly deep chord with me, I can't really express it in words.

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My Better Self

by: Dar Williams

September 13, 2005
From top to bottom this is a very solid CD and deserves a spot up there with "Mortal City" and her other best material. I liked the duet cover of "Comfortably Numb." The highlight for me on this disc though is the lead off song "Teen for God."

If you like Dar's music this will not dissappoint, if you are new to her...this might be a good launch point for you because of the album's pop-oriented sound.

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The Green World

by: Dar Williams

August 22, 2000
I have loved Dar from the beginning and this album is no exception. While it might have less of the humor that you will find in Honesty Room or Mortal City you will find hauntingly beautiful lyrics and honesty that is rarely found elsewhere. Like all people Dar is on an inward journey and it's easy to track it through her albums. This one is a favorite of mine from the uplifting "Playing to the Firmament" to the poignant "After All" while still capturing that endless spirit she exudes in "Another Mystery" and "I won't be your Yoko Ono". If you ever have the chance, she is amazing live!

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My Better Self

from: Razor & Tie

September 13, 2005
From top to bottom this is a very solid CD and deserves a spot up there with "Mortal City" and her other best material. I liked the duet cover of "Comfortably Numb." The highlight for me on this disc though is the lead off song "Teen for God."

If you like Dar's music this will not dissappoint, if you are new to her...this might be a good launch point for you because of the album's pop-oriented sound.

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The Green World

by: Dar Williams

June 29, 2004
I have loved Dar from the beginning and this album is no exception. While it might have less of the humor that you will find in Honesty Room or Mortal City you will find hauntingly beautiful lyrics and honesty that is rarely found elsewhere. Like all people Dar is on an inward journey and it's easy to track it through her albums. This one is a favorite of mine from the uplifting "Playing to the Firmament" to the poignant "After All" while still capturing that endless spirit she exudes in "Another Mystery" and "I won't be your Yoko Ono". If you ever have the chance, she is amazing live!