...
There are elements of all of this on 0304, but it is far more glossy and much more of a guitar pop album. But Jewel seems to have mastered this genre completely, and uses a few other styles along the way for more interest and variety.
The lead single from the album is Intuition, immediately ... Read review
0304 (CD) - Jewel
Why pick on a girl for taking a chance? After experiencing flagging sales, Jewel has ... more
become proactive and given herself a cosmetic and artistic makeover. But 0304 isn't the winsome songbird's first leap into the unknown. Hiring Shakira producer Lester ...
0304 (CD) - Jewel
Why pick on a girl for taking a chance? After experiencing flagging sales, Jewel has ... more
become proactive and given herself a cosmetic and artistic makeover. But0304isn't the winsome songbird's first leap into the unknown. Hiring Shakira producer Lester A ...
A review by mattC on 0304 [ECD] - Jewel (Pop) October 8th, 2003
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Advantages:
Fantastic new sound for Jewel
Disadvantages:
Previous fans may prefer her old style
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Jewel’s fourth main studio album sees an extreme shift in styles for the Alaskan singer-songwriter, which in so many cases has proved disaster. This is not so however for Jewel, who clearly has fun creating a fresh, satisfying and more commercial album, while still maintaining her introspective and intelligent lyrical style.
Jewel’s first album was Pieces of You, a slow burning folk album with tremendous poise and atmosphere, establishing Jewel as an acoustic artist first and foremost. The follow up Spirit seemed a natural progression, still largely guitar based but moving into more rockier territory with more songs recorded with a full band, and also high quality production. Things were calmed down again slightly for This Way, perhaps a combination of the two previous albums but with its own individual country feel.
There are elements of all of this on 0304, but it is far more glossy and much more of a guitar pop album. But Jewel seems to have mastered this genre completely, and uses a few other styles along the way for more interest and variety. The lead single from the album is Intuition, immediately noticable for it’s use of French accordian in the introduction followed by a heavy funk bass line kicking in for the main track. Highly catchy, it is one of the most memorable tracks after you first hear the album. The same can be said of Stand, and also the sweet Run 2 U, which feels like a dance track played by a live band rather than computers and drum machines. There are moments of delightful unashamed pop, such as Yes U Can and the gloriously bingy-bongy U & Me=Love, while Fragile Heart is simple and laid-back with clear country and folk influences returning to Jewel’s music. There is also Leave The Lights On, which has a classy jazz club feel, and is delivered with the confidence and release of a sultry jazz babe. America is a patriotic, but also slightly cutting, feel good track, reflecting on teh pros and cons of Jewel's homeland. George Bush, The Osbournes and Anna Nicole Smith all get name-checked, and apparently jewel had to change some of the lyrics to this song, as the record company considered them a bit too risky. Perhaps the best track of all is Haunted, interestingly written and sang from the point of view of an obsessed stalker. This is a mesmeric and heavy, ticking piece, with a strong vocal and arresting chorus. It wouldn’t be out of place on the album of some of Britain’s best indie acts such as Coldplay, Travis of even Radiohead showing a more commercial slant.
This is a highly polished and bright work possesing the fun and spark of a pop album whilst still using superior and considered songwriting.
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Little Gems Review of0304 [ECD] - Jewel (Pop)by
blodeuedd9
Advantages: Upbeat Disadvantages: A far cry from previous works
Intro:
When I think of Jewel, I think of mellow tunes, sinking into my duvet, covers up to my chin. Old albums would be Autumn, pale, floating, white tulip petals kissing your neck... Too far?
This album is different. You could say it was Summer, a new Jewel emerging, tanned and happy. There's still the same old social-commentary, she still likes her sceptical/hopeful observations. But instead of singing about Fat Boys, Deep Water and generally ... ...charge of your feet and make you dance.
I really didn't like this album at first. Expectations were high and pinned to a folk type of music. Luckily, I persevered (mainly because it was a Christmas present from my little brother and I couldn't bear to leave it there all unplayed and unloved), and now there's another little lyrical space in my brain cleared especially for her words.
Content:
'Intuition' is the stand-out track, here, and if you ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: She may gain new fans Disadvantages: She may lose her old fans
Jewel didn't really mean to come up with a dance pop album. The songs on this album were written accordding to beats. From the beats, Jewel worked with Lester (a guy who produces Shakira's music) to make it into music and then filled in the lyrics. This is a very extraordinary way to write a song but Jewel has never been one to stick to the norm. The one thing that hasn't changed is, Jewel still sings bitter love songs, Jewel still sings about politics ... ...just voices out her opinions.
The beginning track "Stand" is a song Jewel written in question to many of the world's injustice. However, it sounds too dance pop to be taken too seriously. Then there is the popular "Intuition" wherein she encourages individuality. There are also a few dark tracks like "Haunted" and "Sweet Temptation". The latter she wrote it with a bit of inspiration to The Cure. There's a controversial track "America" where Jewel ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Album Notes: This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Personnel: Jewel Kilcher (vocals, guitar); Mark Oakley (acoustic guitars, Rusty Anderson, Dave Levita (electric guitar); Lisa Germano (violin, background vocals); Mike Bolger (accordion, trumpet, trombone); Lester A. Mendez (keyboards, sound effects); Patrick Warren (chamberlain); Paul Bushnell (bass); Abe Laboriel Jr. (snare drums, drums, percussion, sound effects); Greg Collins (sound effects). Producers include: Lester Mendez, Jewel Kilcher. Recorded at Conway Studios, Hollywood, California. Everybody's favorite Alaskan pop dame apparently spent the time between 2001's THIS WAY and 0304 distancing herself from her roots and closely studying the Britney-style teenpop phenomenon. Gone is the earnest, coffehouse folkie feel, replaced by squadrons of percolating synthesizers and snappy loops. Together with new writing partner/co-producer Lester Mendez, she seems to have worked out a way to mate Max Martin-style pop hooks with her own sometimes-introspective, sometimes-philosophical lyrics. There are plenty of songs that deal strictly with the vagaries of romance, but there's also "America," where Jewel gets overtly political, and "Stand," where she laments the failure of Woody Guthrie's visions in contemporary society. So while a casual listen might give the impression that yesterday's Jewel had become strictly a memory, there's a continuing lyrical thread on 0304 that extends like a dangling lifeline to the singer's old fans.
Album Reviews: Rolling Stone (6/26/03, p.74) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Reinventing herself with sleek studio effects, plastic dance-rock hooks and pop-art irony is a major move for an icon of the unironic..." Entertainment Weekly (6/20/03, p.71) - "...0304's dance-pop vibrancy makes it Jewel's best album..." - Rating: B-
Titles on disc 1
1.: Stand
2.: Run 2 U
3.: Intuition
4.: Leave The Lights On
5.: 2 Find U
6.: Fragile Heart
7.: Doin' Fine
8.: 2 Become 1
9.: Haunted
10.: Sweet Temptation
11.: Yes U Can
12.: U And Me = Love
13.: America
14.: Becoming
15.: Intuition (Todd Terry in-house mix)
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Listed on Ciao since : 08/10/2003
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