Lucinda Williams Cranks It Up

Lucinda Williams' last album, 2001's ''Essence,'' was an overwhelming critical and fan favorite, topping 10-best lists, winning a Grammy, and finding a tender spot in untold hearts with its raw emotionalism. Press Williams' devoted partisans for any problems they had with the album, and they might begrudgingly admit to one: Great as ''Essence'' was...it didn't really rock.

She heard some of that talk. ''People need to get used to not always having to rock out,'' Williams says. ''Nick Drake doesn't exactly rock, but he made beautiful records. But I also understand what they mean.''

Excessive quietude isn't a problem on Williams' next effort, ''World Without Tears.'' Forsaking studio musicians for the first time, Williams and her road band essentially recorded the album live. ''I feel really confident about this record,'' she says, ''that nobody's gonna be going 'I wish this sounded more like [1998's classic] 'Car Wheels [on a Gravel Road]'' or that kind of thing. They're gonna go, 'Wow, she can rock!' Yeah...hello!''

Not that volume necessarily portends a more upbeat experience. It's hard to say whether ''Tears'' derives more intensity from its big sound or sometimes joltingly direct lyrics (''Lean over the toilet bowl and throw up my confession/Cleanse my soul of this sin obsession...''). These songs are more universal, says Williams, though she also believes that ultimately ''everybody responds most to the basic heartbreak song.''

Musical binging and purging doesn't get much better. ''It felt good to get that stuff out of [my] system,'' Williams, 51, allows. ''Even more so now, there's the 'What do I have to lose?' kind of thing.... Like when Dylan was singing that song 'I'm sick of love....' To hear him say that, it makes total sense. Whereas if it came from a twentysomething, you'd go, 'Oh yeah, right. What can you possibly teach me about love?' I've been around long enough now, and I know some things.'' Yeah...hello! (April 8)