Williams can let herself act goofy and not be ashamed. The liberties she takes with the horns sound too much like lounge music. She indulges herself in a tendency to let her skat slip into baby talk. Although there is enough quality music here to justify a purchase, new listeners might be better off with an earlier album, Loose, as an introduction. Williams, who lives with multiple sclerosis, uses her talent to sing about life's happiness.
Horns add to the light lovely feeling of the song, without being cheesy.
Even when she allows herself leeway with the horns or with baby talk, there is an undercurrent of earnestness. Her wispy girlish vocals are at times hard to take seriously until you listen to her words. Water to Drink really is about lagniappe, about rediscovering delights that have been taken for granted. Billie Holliday would be proud. Water to Drink has it all, a few jewels, some junk and a little bit of lagniappe.