#315Albums is a list of 315 albums that appear on both the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, as well as the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book, edited by Robert Dimery. At its best, it is a representation of some of the greatest music ever released; at its worst, it is a journey through the history of music that the majority see as important, influential, and/or relevant. If nothing else, these albums are worth experiencing at least once to get a better understanding of music, which is why we are working to complete all #315Albums.


No. 025

“It took three torturous years to finish this alt-country masterwork, but it was worth it. Williams writes songs that explore the rootlessness of American life, with vivid imagery and gravel-guitar beauty.”

Artist: Lucinda Williams
Album: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Released: 1998
Label: Mercury
Rolling Stones Ranking: 305

It was bound to happen sooner or later, and today was the day. I genuinely can’t figure out why Car Wheels on a Gravel Road made this list. There is nothing special about this album, from start to finish. Lucinda Williams’ vocals are lackluster, the instrumentals are generic, and the whole thing just feels like mediocre adult contemporary music, for lack of a better genre label. This is supposed to be “alternative country”, and I guess that fits, but it seems like too interesting a genre label to describe what is delivered here. Still, even with all of that said, I have to agree that the album is very listenable. It’s not terrible, just mediocre, which is exactly what I don’t expect to hear during this journey.

Cinefessions’ #315Albums Rating: 43%

Image and quote courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine.