Modern Belly Dance From Lebanon (Desert Jewel) - Emad Sayyah

Advantages: Original, fresh yet familiar at the same time - immensely enjoyable
Disadvantages: There's only twelve tracks on the album!

...If it wasn't for "The Hollow Of Morning" by Gemma Hayes", the candidate for my favourite album purchased during 2008 might well be Eilen Jewell's "Letters From Sinners And Strangers" which was released the year before. Whilst it was firmly on my radar since it was originally put out, I never actually got around to buying the CD until I saw Eilen and her band play at The Band Room in the midst of rural North Yorkshire back in August last year. To say I was blown away by their performance that night would be a major understatement - I had to have the album there and then and also bought her debut album "Boundary County" at the same time. Her band lines up as follows: Eilen (rhymes with "Healin'") provides the vocals and plays acoustic guitar, Jason Beek plays drums and percussion, Jerry Miller is the wizard on the electric guitar (and... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic new sound for Jewel
Disadvantages: Previous fans may prefer her old style

...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... Read review

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Advantages: Back to her folkier route, fantastic lyrics and singing voice.
Disadvantages: A couple of bad tracks, not her strongest album to date.

...and Lester Mendez. This is my favourite, favourite, favourite song out of many from her albums. It's a rockier piece, with a fantastic guitar solo intro that makes you tap to the beat. It reminds me a cross between Lucie Silvas' "Breathe In" and Belinda Carlisle's "Leave The Light On". The lyric in this is so romantic, yet sorrowful at the same time. The melody of the chorus runs smoothly from line to line. It's a 'must hear' song - One powerful ballad". Verdict - 10 / 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (9) Last Dance Rodeo (6:16) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Don't wander too far, my one constant star, darkness exists." Lyric and music by Jewel Kilcher. Back more into her traditional slow folky style with a soft rock beginning. As usual, another powerful chorus that fills up the room. This song is slightly filled with lecture and advice... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful