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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Oct 8th, 2003
(Oct 9th, 2003)
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