Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
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Free Music Notes for Come Away With Me
Free Music Review: genre-cross = confusion for narrow minds
Hit: 5 Stars
I didn't buy this album until after the Grammys but that's because of inertia. I heard Norah Jones playing solo and duets on Marian MacPartland's Jazz show and I thought, "Hey this girl can swing" and so does this album. No it's not "pure" jazz -whatever the Miles Davis that is. And I'm not surprised "avant-garde" people aren't impressed either. Perhaps some of you were confused because the album was put out on Blue Note. Well, the answer to that little problem is that Ms. Jones didn't want the pressure of putting out a gazillion follow-ups in 6 months, so she chose a label that emphasizes quality over quantity.
In any case I really feel I have to add my own voice in Norah's defence. This was a very nice mellow album. As other people have already said, it deserves to be judged on its own terms because it is not a pure "genre" album.
In my humble opinion, it compares favorably to Cassandra Wilson's material in spirit but it's not the same as Cassandra Wilson's stuff because Norah ain't Cassandra, or Nina (god rest her soul), or Billie or any of the other great vocalists. Maybe Norah is still a singer (rather than a vocalist) at this stage in her young life but she's already a helluva lot better at it than a lot of the so-called critics who seem to be so enraged by this album.
So most of the writing credits on the album belong to other people (in particular the monster talented Jessie Harris). Big deal. There's a very long tradition in music of playing other people's tunes. No-talent artists, like oh Louis Armstrong did it. Just because you wrote it yourself, doesnt make it better.
Of course a lot of really good music gets no support from the industry because it's hard to pigeonhole. I know there are lots of artists out there (like Jonatha Brooke for instance) who have the same level of talent and musicality as Norah but who aren't getting the commercial attention.
But really, is that her fault? Is she out there messing with their headsets, amp-cords and fx boxes? People need to put their anger where it belongs: on the industry suits and not on the performers who manage to get some recognition.
Norah Jones has paid her dues. And to my musical taste, she's a lot more happening than Mariah or Whitney or other "pop divas" have been in quite a while.
This is a great album. If you are fixated on some "tradition" (jazz, country, Gregorian chant) then you probably won't like it. But if you have a taste for something that mixes a lot of different influences in emotionally vibrant, deliciously sashaying, intelligent, acoustic music, then this is the album for you.
Free Music Review: Recommend ThisOne With All My Senses
Hit: 5 Stars
Norah Jones loves ballads, as evidenced by the 14 short and sweet tracks united in Come Away With Me. Every song on this album works to her advantage. You can't help but swim in her soft vocal symphony and the simple sounds of piano, guitar and drums. The surprising addition of the accordion, organ and violin in two songs add a contrast to the jazz sound.
This album embodies relaxed comfort. Norah controls all the vocals. No back up singers distract from her voice, she's that good. Obviously, since she won eight Grammy Awards in February. The fact that Norah's father is world famous sitar player Ravi Shanker hasn't helped or hindered her. Her sound is unmistakably her own and she demands her own audience.
The opening track, Don't Know Why, won Jesse Harris a Grammy for song writing. He also wrote four other fabulous songs on this album and played acoustic and electric guitar. Harris has a new release out with Verve (Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos). The sorrowful lyrics of Don't Know Why like "catching teardrops in my hand," and "my heart is drenched in wine" are visually memorable when combined with Norah's vocal talent.
Bass guitarist and songwriter Lee Alexander wrote four songs. Like Harris, Alexander's lyrics are short, simple and tell emotional stories that leave a lasting impression on the listener. They are talented storytellers.
The title track, Come Away With Me, was written by Norah Jones and is a rich vocal dance with the piano. A true love song, this is pure romance from start to finish.
Long Day Is Over is an impressive 33 words long. It surprised me how Norah and Jesse were able to turn 33 words into a smooth and beautiful salute to nightfall. The final track, The Nearness Of You, is a haunting duet between Norah and her piano.
I keep mentioning the simplicity of this album. It is consistent throughout. This is definitely not a bad thing. When I say simple what I am referring to is the lack of bells and whistles. In a day and age that seeks to overexcite our every sense, Come Away With Me tickles the senses with the basics. It is real music for a society awestruck by reality everything.
Norah Jones has had a sudden burst of fame and recognition but she is not a one-hit wonder who will disappear into the sunset once the media frenzy dies down. You can expect to see more releases as she spreads her wings. I wait patiently for the next flight. I totally recommend this one with all my senses.
Review Originally Posted at http://www.linearreflections.com
Free Music Review: Soothing for a relaxed evening
Hit: 5 Stars
Formula for a relaxing evening: a comfy chair, a nice hot cup of chai or jasmine tea, some sort of snacks, a good comic book, and some Norah Jones playing on the stereo. Sit back and let the evening go.The daughter that sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar ignored proves that she can make it on her own. The fourteen songs on her debut album Come Away With Me are a melodic fusion of jazz, blues, and folk (in that order) and easily at home on the CD changer along with Shawn Colvin, Sade, and other such artists.
Smoky, gentle, smooth, and warm--that's how I describe her voice. I find it hard to compare her voice to anyone else, so that shows how special she is. In a song punctuated by her piano, such as the title ballad, a mixture of slow jazz with tinges of country, her voice is the star. Whether accompanied by piano or acoustic guitar, she succeeds in not being overdominated by the instruments and comes full front, singing, wrapping the melodies of the instruments around her.
"Seven Years," a sweet number featuring Norah, an acoustic guitar, and a sitar-sounding National guitar, is my favorite song here. It's a tender portrait of a seven-year old girl, who's "Spinning, laughing, dancing to her favorite song/A little girl with nothing wrong/And she's all alone."
Second place goes to the title track, which is the perfect example of her eclectic mix. It's also a nice romantic song of going away with someone somewhere, whether it be a mountaintop or a field with knee-high yellow grass.
Other noteworthy songs: she gives a nice bluesy-jazz flavor to Hank Williams' "Cold Cold Heart." "Feelin' The Same Way" is the least slow song here, but that's because of the slightly quicker tempo of the drums. "Turn Me On" is another jazz-country ballad that I can't picture any country singers covering without messing it up with their shrill voices. "Painter Song" is classic cafe midnight jazz staple. Ditto for "One Flight Down," with its "Now you know" refrain. Her voice is at its most potent here.
Most of the songs clock in anywhere from two-and-a-half minutes to three-and-a-half minutes on average and are thus bite-sized nuggets of that warm you up inside.
This is one of those rare, one in a blue moon (or is that blue note) special albums that come once in a while and takes your breath away. Come Away With You? Any day, Norah. Just give me the word and I'll be ready. Let me fix some chai first.
Free Music Review: A Night Blooming Jasmine...
Hit: 5 Stars
One of the things that makes this disk so exciting is it's feeling of pure undiscovered innocence. Like the fragrant smell of a night blooming jasmine, this disk is one that quietly caresses the senses causing you to stop in your tracks and wonder if it is that sweet smell giving you that feeling or is is just the imagination.Although rooted in Jazz, the music of Norah Jones crosses many boundaries and while this may be one of the disks greatest strengths, it also may be for some, its ultimate downfall. Today's audiences like things they can easily categorize - Diana Krall's classic balladry, or Pop songs full of catchy lyrics for example - and this disk with it's meandering journey through torch jazz, blues, pop, and country, may be just to wide for those who's musical expectations are defined by narrow boundaries.
Joneses forays into Jazz tinged pop and country may be off-putting to many jazz purists, and too broad for pop audiences who prefer a sameness in all they listen to. That being said, songs like Hank William's "Cold Cold Heart" as much demonstrates Joneses ability for making the worldly sound otherwordly as it does the fact that Hank Williams did not just write great Country songs - he was one of the great songwriters of the 20th century.
Good music is about taking chances and about not being afraid to dream - something many fans of both Jazz and Pop music seem to have forgotten. The irony of this is that many of today's Jazz greats started out as rule breakers who after being villified by the music establishment went on to define the very meaning of jazz itself. Pop music in its heyday was also unafraid of breaking rules with artists like Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan changing the way in which we defined popular music often at the expense of their popularity. In my mind it is not whether or not Jones measures up but whether or not we as listeners have lost the ability to dream.
Perhaps if I have one small complaint it is that the laid back quality of the disk causes many of the fine musicians on this disk to be kept too much in the background. It would have been really nice to hear musicians such as these given the freedom to really let loose against Joneses voice. All that being said here's to hoping that both Pop audiences and Jazz aficionados can recognize the potential that Jones has to offer. Here is also to hoping that Norah Jones grows to realize this potential herself.
Free Music Review: Genius. Sheer Genius.
Hit: 5 Stars
Ok, Ok, guys. For all those out there who are debating to get this album, I've been there. And for those who don't understand her fame but are willing to give it a try because of the acclaim,i've been there too. so I think you can trust me to give you a good review. When Norah Jones burst onto the music scene with "Don't Know Why" I thought, 'With that horrible music, she's not gonna last long.' THen, I heard the raves and the hype and was like, 'Are you freaks deaf? That's the worst music I ever heard!' but as the hype built, I thought, 'Maybe there's something to this woman I missed.' So everytime her single came on, I listened hard, and what do you know? I learned to love it.
So I listened to sample tracks here on Amazon and was surprised to find they weren't that bad. So I put her major label debut on my wish list really only wanting it because of her grammy wins and fame. THen, time went on, and I had every CD on my list, but I still did not have a copy of Ms. Jones' "Come Away With Me". And everytime opportunity struck, I said, no, I'll get it next time. So I kept putting it off and putting it off, until here it
is 2003 and nope, no disc. This year, I listened to her samples and was SHOCKED to find I genuinely LOVED HER MUSIC. I don't know how it happened, but I knew now was the time to buy "come away" at long last. and yes, I love it. It's a classic and a masterpiece. it's gorgeous jazz with a husky yet soothing voice. One note and if you're taken unawares, norah's seductive croon of a voice will completely whisk you away. Come Away with Me will not be an invitation, it will be an automatic response. For those of you who can't appreciate real, true-blue music, this isn't for you. For uncultured swine and phillistines, this isn't for you. And for those who say all her songs sound the same, you can listen to the five clips and see that isn't true. "Don't Know
Why" "Seven Years" "Cold Cold Heart" "Feelin' the Same Way" and the title track all sound completely different. The tempos and melodies are also way different; yes, every song is slow, but that doesn't mean they all sound alike. So- if you want beautiful music, an enchanting voice and true art, give this a try. Who knows? You may just come away with Norah.