Genre: Pop-Jazz/Lounge-Pop. Song Of The Album: "Those Sweet Words". Alternate Title: "The PROPER Debut". Label: Blue Note/Capitol (EMI)
It's difficult to gauge an artist like Norah Jones- she's not really a jazz artist but by the same token she's no Top 40 wonder either. She was the unlikeliest of pop stars even in a 2002 landscape that allowed the personality-less John Mayer and Vanessa Carlton to get hits and an even unlikelier chart topper in 2003 when urban music was all over the radio and- to an extent anyway- on the album charts as well. Still, with eight million copies of "Come Away From Me" sold- five million of which came in 2003- and a boatload of Grammies that year, a follow-up was inevitable, and, unlike stiffs from the likes of The Strokes and Howie Day, Jones manages to grow on her second effort and actually improve this time around.
Whereas "Come Away With Me"- at least the two singles, the title track and "Don't Know Why"- was simply tailored for coffee houses, "Feels Like Home" is actually a little adventurous, seeing a Jones out to expand her horizons. Don't get me wrong- you're bound to hear this album all over coffee shops and will keep on hearing it until she releases new material- but, unlike the last outing, it's not slow for the sake of being slow- it all serves a purpose, and what a purpose that is.
There is, for one, the bluegrass-tinged and light-hearted "Creepin' In", featuring country legend Dolly Parton. It deals with an in love Jones telling her lover she doesn't mind if he "creep(s) on in" and orders "don't stop until you're done." It's set to a tune similar to Parton's equally fun-loving "I'm Gone", and presents the most boisterous moment on the album. Hey, who says Jones can't have a little fun? Then there's the samba/folk-like vibe on "Those Sweet Words", augmented by Jones' sweet voice, presenting the most sonically interesting moment on the album. Other highlights include the raw feel to "Don't Miss You At All" (which is just Jones and her piano- though don't get me wrong, the album has a very raw and stripped-down feel, this is just the rawest moment), the drumwork that augments "Above Ground" and the reflective and spiritual "Humble Me".
However, Jones does have a knack for borrowing and borrows a little bit too much on the album- for example, "Creepin' In" and "In The Morning", as solid as those songs are, borrow a bit too much from bluegrass and country, respectively, to make them work. Also, "Feels Like Home" won't provide instant gratification and does require a lot of attention to really appreciate- this isn't for those who want a quick thrill. Then again, that's not what Jones is probably looking for- so why fault her exactly for it?
Regardless, "Feels Like Home" should provide Jones' fans a worthy follow-up to her previous outing and should show her doubters that she does deserve another chance. If she didn't show her true gifts before, on "Feels Like Home" she does now.
-DG
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