Sings Some Ol' Songs

1	Moon River 3:18
2	Blue Skies 2:23
3	And Roses and Roses 2:30
4	Over the Rainbow 3:58
5	My Funny Valentine 2:50
6	Keep Sweeping Cobwebs Off the Moon 3:02
7	I'm Old Fashioned 3:12
8	As Time Goes By 3:06
9	Someone to Watch Over Me 4:37
10	Mongoose 1:39
11	Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? 4:39

Barnes & Noble

It might seem an unusual move for a renowned singer-songwriter with a worshipful following among alt-folkies to record an album of pop standards, but Victoria Williams has built a reputation on her idiosyncrasies. Her keening, gossamer voice has always boasted a jazzy lilt -- not unlike that of Rickie Lee Jones or Joni Mitchell -- and that's what comes to the fore on this collection of familiar tunes by Henry Mancini, Irving Berlin, and Rodgers & Hart. Williams's airy, helium-lifted vocals remain distinctively poetic on renditions of romantic tunes like "As Time Goes By," "Moon River," and "My Funny Valentine." She keeps her musical backdrop simple -- a little cornet here, a bit of guitar there, a touch of Wurlitzer over in the corner -- so the focus remains on her voice and on the songs, which are obviously close to her heart. Her romantic, album-closing rendition of "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans" betrays this California desert resident's true spiritual home: the Louisiana Delta. Lydia Vanderloo

All Music Guide

Victoria Williams is a storyteller of her own kind who possesses a matchless whimsicality. On her fifth album, Sings Some Ol' Songs, Williams' peculiar vocal beauty comes alive in an exciting collection of traditional standards. It's a great fit, too. Williams is delightfully intelligent in giving some of these songs new life, but doesn't miss out on the initial grace behind them all. Williams soaks herself in light jazz sounds on the blushing rendition of Henry Mancini's "Moon River." Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's classic "My Funny Valentine" is vocally sleek, while the old-timey good time of "Keep Sweeping Cobwebs Off the Moon" and the sassy salsa beats of "And Roses and Roses" are fashionably more her style. The obscuro fun of Eden Ahbez's "Mongoose" is equally playful. Sings Some Ol' Songs is essentially a reverie of traditional pop and its musical roots. The production is clear and concise, allowing the dreamlike quality of Sings Some Ol' Songs to simply arrive. Williams keeps things innocent in a natural way in keeping listeners interested. With this particular album, she's introducing swan songs of yesteryear to a new audience. It's absolutely lovely. MacKenzie Wilson

Billboard

Victoria Williams' unusual voice and musical interpretation make this set of standards a fun treat for classic song lovers looking for new takes on old favorites. Jill Kipnes