The Victoria Williams story is as sad and sweet as her music. I fell in love with her after her first LP Happy Come Home, (Happy was her dog's name). It's a fact that I first became attracted to my wife because she looks a lot like Victoria. I used to go see her live as often as I could--oftimes playing shows with her ex-husband Peter Case. (Whom I also love).

In the late 80's Victoria was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. In order to raise money for her mounting medical bills her friends recorded a benefit record entitled Sweet Relief. An impressive roster that included the likes of Pearl Jam, Lou Reed, and Soul Asylum, all doing versions of her songs--it's true gem of a recording. Sweet Relief has grown into successful non-profit charity that raises money for musicians who rarely have medical insurance.

After her divorce from Case, she took up with Mark Olson (founder of the cult alt-country faves The Jayhawks) and after ten years of wedded bliss, Victoria has most certainly become the unspoken Queen of the folk/country underground. She possesses a unique voice that is something of an acquired taste. It has a croaky, cajun--meets innocent little girl quality that you may remember from her version of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," that was featured in a television commercial that was around for a good while. On Water To Drink, Victoria puts her spin of three more beloved standards--the title track, as well as "Until The Real Thing Comes Along," and "Young At Heart." This is the first time (that I know of) that she's shed her trademark trembling tremolo and addressed a song with a flippant confidence and command you'd associate with Billy Holliday. I've got an all new appreciation of the awesome vocal instrument she possesses, and it gives this record alot more depth than anything she's done since Happy Come Home. The music on Water To Drink is so vastly eclectic, that I really don't know who to recommend it to--or if I even should. To me it's as precious as cool clear water--but it may not be your cup of tea.