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Title: The first great make-out album of the new century
Review: "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" is by all rights a masterpiece and arguably the best album released in the 90's. As spare and delicate as its predecessor was expansive and poppy, "Essence" features very stark lyrics and bluesy arrangements - - - a pop album it isn't. But Lu's dreamy eroticism is more "in your face" here, and the album sonically evokes "Time Out of Mind." Not a bad chalk mark to aim for, and her singing has never been better. Rookies may want to go elsewhere first (her eponymous one, "Car Wheels," and "Sweet Old World"). But she continues to be one of the most satisfying musicians of our time.
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