Dar Williams
The Beauty of the Rain

(Razor & Tie)

First Appeared in The Music Box, April 2003, Volume 10, #4

Written by John Metzger

For the past decade, Dar Williams has crept ever so quietly across the country, all the while developing a loyal following for her sometimes quirky tunes. With the release of The Beauty of the Rain, her fifth studio album, she now appears poised for greater things. Granted, this latest song cycle merely builds upon the precious pop-folk of her previous outings, but with a wide array of guest stars in tow — including Béla Fleck, Alison Krauss, and Blues Traveler’s John Popper — Williams has never been more at ease in the recording studio. There are moments — most notably on a tediously hymn-like interpretation of The Band’s untouchable classic Whispering Pines — when her tendencies towards gentility drag down the proceedings. But elsewhere — from Mercy of the Fallen’s shimmering swirl to the Natalie Merchant-meets-Suzanne Vega splendor of Closer to Me — Williams gives the music plenty of room to breathe. The result is an affecting and alluring album that glistens and glows with stunning elegance. ½

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Ratings

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2003 The Music Box