Live Tracks - iTunes Original: Jewel

October 12th, 2007 - by Eddie

Albums, Reviews

Jewel and her boobs released an iTunes Original album this past Tuesday (Oct. 8). I’m telling you this because I’m sure you’ve been up nights wondering what happened to the singer-songwriter blonde with no dental plan.

The album has 23-tracks that include live performances (”Hands,” “Break Me,” and an acoustic version of “Intuition”) along with her talking about her life (growing up in Alaska, kicking Bauhaus fans out of her set, how she made enough money on her first album to never have to work again). She also yodels, which is what I imagine she sounds like when she’s orgasming after you hit the right spot “down there.”

For fans, Jewel still has that voice that can sound clear and solid one minute only to turn into a weepy, babyish aw-it’s-kinda-cute-but-then-it-isn’t voice the next. Truth be told, I’ve had a crush on her ever since “Pieces of You,” crocked teeth and all. Why? I dunno. Maybe it was my penchant for women who sang lyrics like “Fat boy…” at the time.

I’ve seen her live before and someone even bought me her book of poetry. Both put me to sleep. But this album is different. It’s engaging and sounds like the proper follow-up to “Pieces” or even a premature Greatest Hits. At its core, the album feels like a simple folk album featuring a girl and her guitar, which was when Jewel was at her best (save for her rump-shaking dancing in the ironic “Intuition” video).

And the rich sound of the album is so clear that I’m wondering if Charlie Rose rented out his dark interview room for the performances (Seriously. It looks freaky in there).

The only time the album falters a little is when she engages in spoken word and reads a poem she wrote called “Bukowski’s Widow.” Her poems are an acquired taste, unless you write opening statements like “I say to you…” or phrases like “Let us raise ourselves like lanterns,” which then makes you the lesser successful Jewel. Congratulations. But don’t worry. You’re probably a better actor (Remember “Ride with the Devil“? She’s “a woman alone” in the trailer. And I take make what I said in 1999. This looks ridiculous and awesome) .

Oh, and on repeated listens you have to skip the interview parts because there’s only so many times you can hear Jewel talk about how much she loves her life (though, as mentioned before, I could listen to her yodel all day…)

All in all, it’s not a bad album. A great gem for Jewel fans or anyone else who misses listening to coffee-house music, but can’t stand driving to actual coffee shops where you have to deal with pretentious college students.