The Fall
Norah Jones
Album Description Vinyl LP pressing. 2009 release from the best-selling singer/songwriter. Norah has taken a new direction on the The Fall, experimenting with different sounds and a new set of collaborators, including Jacquire King, a noted producer and engineer who has worked with Kings of Leon, Tom Waits and Modest Mouse. Jones enlisted several songwriting collaborators, including Ryan Adams and Okkervil River's Will Sheff, as well as her frequent partners Jesse Harris and Richard Julian. Musicians include drummers Joey Waronker and James Gadson, keyboardist James Poyser and guitarists Marc Ribot and Smokey Hormel. The first single lifted from the album is 'Chasing Pirates'.
Another solid 4-star outing, and a 5-star vinyl LP Man, this girl is hot. Sizzling AND smoking. This is only my second venture into Norah Jones' territory, and it certainly will not be the last. She has not only pulled off a seamless stylistic transition, but she is also showing her clout in the recording industry by releasing her latest studio effort in a double-gatefold, 180-gram LP, complete with a full-size poster of her and her five dogs, for the price of a regular LP. Selling 36 million albums last year alone has it's perks! Music-wise, as with "Come Away With Me", the fidelity of the recording really shines through, and there is something for almost everybody stylistically. Coming from Texas with a jazz pedigree, her time in New York City has certainly widened her musical horizons. Overall, she is extending her reach a little more into rock n' roll, while staying true to the blend of bluesy jazz and pop that has defined her meteoric ascent into stardom. Reportedly, this is the first album that she has composed on a guitar, and it shows in a good way. Many will no doubt love the first track, "Chasing Pirates", as it really shows off her pop music side; it may be the one to really get some top 40 airplay. For me the first one that really jumped out was "Light As A Feather", which presents a lush aural landscape to show off her bluesy jazz side, which is the aspect of her music that most appeals to me. "You've Ruined Me", and "Tell Your Mama" get more into bluesy rock, and she does this very well. There are no mediocre songs on this album, and the wide range of musical styles she presents, while probably short-circuiting many potential 5-star reviews she may have garnered as a more stylistic purist, widen her appeal, and doesn't seem to be hurting album sales any. Norah Jones has a voice for the ages, there is no doubt about that. There are many industry heavyweights "helping" her (or is it the other way around?) on this latest effort, which may have helped with this stylistic transition, but compared to "Come Away With Me", the album can sound a tad over-produced in some places. But the new rock n' roll edge really shines through elsewhere in the album without being overpowering, and I am looking forward to more explorations into those areas from her in the future. The LP version of this album is an excellent value for any vinyl-lover, to be sure, even if you only like a couple of the songs. But in my experience with Ms. Jones, the songs I like the most now won't be the same favorites that I develop over time; maybe I will really warm up to "Chasing Pirates" after all. One of my favorite songs on this album is "Man of the Hour", which is an ode to her dog(s). Neil Young should be proud!
