Dar Williams

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This winter Williams's show in Columbus, Ohio, peaked with rousing songs from her early albums that got her fans onto their feet, as these songs have for years now. But her newer, serious songs seemed the deep heart of the show — especially two from my favorite album of hers, The Green World (2000): "After All," an intimate account of her emotional life, and "Spring Street," about the longing to find a place where your life can start again.

On Williams's new album, The Beauty of the Rain, her lyrics remain strong without breaking new ground, while the music is more intricately crafted than ever. Expect her and her band to give these songs a proper live debut and then finish off with the old favorites when they play at the Power Center on Tuesday, April 22.   

[Originally published in April, 2003.]