Seriously thinking of leaving Ciao now, just too many problems, too often......off by crimbo, you wi...
Seriously thinking of leaving Ciao now, just too many problems, too often......off by crimbo, you will find me on another well known site, same member name.
Member since:22.06.2004
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Norah Jones - Come away with me
This album cost me a princely sum of 50p from Barnsley Sunday Market.
The album, released in 2002 is still riding high in the jazz charts, and the only track I had heard prior to buying this album was 'Don't know why' which is certainly in the jazz style of ballads, and she has a jazzy voice to match.
Five Grammy's, twenty million plus sales, this has gotta be a cracking album right?
Coupled with the fact that she is the daughter of Ravi Shankar and sister of Anoushka I was counting my blessings, so it was with some excitement I parted with my 50p.
I am a strange bod sometimes and have a bit of a ritual when it comes to CD's, which I rarely buy these days. Firstly I put it on and then take the sleeve/insert and read it from back to front, looking at lyrics (if they are included) and any musician information.
Shock number one...a Jazz album with no saxophones, no clarinets, no trumpets, no contrabass (or double bass or cello)...that can't be right!
Oh well I listened to the album and
will give you my opinion on the tracks:
1. Don't Know Why Definitely jazz (and crooner) influences, piano, guitar and rums and Norah's sultry vocals. Great opening track and was reasonably successful as a single. The thing that stands out for me with her vocals is the intonation which is perfect, every word is clear and her singing voice seems to just float, even on the higher notes. It is like listening (if it were possible) to the richest chocolate or fluffiest quilt. It seems impossible to me that anyone could not like this track. 10/10.
2. Seven Years Lyrically this is quite a bitter sweet song and reminds me a little of Joni Mitchell. Lovely acoustic guitar work by Jesse Harris which in itself is slightly influenced by the Asian Sitar I feel, wonder if that was Norah's doing? Not jazz, quite lovely though. 8/10.
3. Cold Cold Hear Just the title should give a clue to the type of song....it is country, god how I hate this song, looking at the booklet I am not surprised to see it is by Hank Williams originally...nooooooo. 0/10.
4. Feelin' the Same Way This is quite boring in my opinion, elevator music, or call centre 'on hold'. Yep, the music is competent, her singing is good, but, but, no life. 0/10.
5. Come Away with Me First track on the cd written by Norah. A ballad like song with a change of vocal style for her at the beginning with an almost hushed voice...piano work is quite sublime. What this song essentially does is tells a dreamy longing by someone. Not my usual type of song, yet, there is something about the guitar work again, Asian and jazz influenced that makes me really like this, and her vocals really are quite nice. 8/10.
6. Shoot the Moon You get the feeling that you have already heard this song when you haven't. it's 'nice', that's all. 5/10.
7. Turn Me On A real bluesy/gospel start and another side to her vocals. Great strong opening verse, it gets better. Like any good piece of blues or gospel it builds slowly but surely. Wow, this woman can really sing with some heart as well as control that is amazing. 9/10.
8. Lonestar Kind of country, not my thing again. 1/10.
9. I've Got to See You Again We get a bit of violin in this track, quite mournful. In fact this song is quite mournful in a 'Torch song' kind of way, I actually do like this, not quite blues, not quite tortured French songstress. Really quite different from the rest of the album up to this point. 8/10.
10. Painter Song Again, a lovely acoustic guitar intro, then a quite Smokey (think Corrine Bailey Rae) vocal, very accomplished, very smooth, again some almost French influences, this time with accordion. Good stuff. 8/10.
11. One Flight Down We seem to have a whole lot of instruments here at different parts, yet not overpowering as each instrument takes it's turn. Huge soul/gospel influence that works well from the quiet initial vocals to the build of the Hammond organ. 6/10.
12. Nightingale Another Jones penned song, another ballad, this time more in a folk tradition, again nice, again a bit boring. 5/10.
13. The Long Day Is Over Folk/country/soul, I don't know what this is. Quite dreamy in an almost Fleetwood Mac kinda way, but not as good! 4/10.
14. The Nearness of You A bit of a jazz standard that she has arranged quite well. Just her vocals and piano (she plays). I get the feeling that she should give this a bit more oomph as the arrangement has a bluesy feel that she should really compliment with a blues vocal like track 7. It is good, no doubt, but could have been more. 7/10.
~~~~Final thoughts~~~~ It aint jazz....there are some jazz influenced numbers but in my humble opinion it aint jazz.
There is not a fast (hardly even moderate) paced song on the whole album and that is a bit of a let down as by the end I am almost asleep.
She seems to experiment with different genres on this album and I do not like the country influenced bits and to be honset, I am not sure this was worth one grammy, let alone five.
As my teacher used to say "Could have done better".
Also posted on Dooyoo, same member name.
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Perfect relaxation album, I love her voice...but some of the tracks on here tended to be a bit samey.. xx
MarcoG 23.09.2008 02:47
Aw, I love this album :)
jesi 03.09.2008 17:04
I've not yet heard this album ~ but then l rarely listen properly to music ~ very good way to discuss the tracks ~ more when you have something to say, less when there is really nothing to add ~ l like the contrasting lengths of paragraphs, Paul ~ makes it easy to read and follow what you are trying to say
. . . . ♥ jesi ♥
In Come Away with Me, it is not just the timbre of Norah Jones's voice that is mature ... more
beyond her years. Her assured phrasing and precise time are more often found in older singers as well. She is instantly recognisable, blending intimations of Billie H...
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Aug 28th, 2008
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