I Walked With You A Ways

The handling and forwarding of tradition is a tricky thing, as allegiance to the past can default to conservatism, even when that’s not the goal. Jess Williamson and Katie Crutchfield team up as Plains, working in the area that Lucinda Williams also occupies—writing well enough that the known becomes fresh and unpredictable. Alt country? Or are these simply songs with a few chords and unmistakably American accents? “If you can’t do better than babe, I’ve got a problem with it”—Katie Crutchfield, understander of how lyrics work.