Elly Roberts reviews
Norah Jones:
Feels Like Home (Deluxe Edition CD & DVD)
Distributed by
Blue Note / Parlophone (EMI)
- Released: September 2004
- Rating: 8/10
- Cat. No: 7243 8 7192 0 9
- DVD Subtitles: English, Dutch, French, German, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish
- DVD sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
- Running time: CD - 56minutes 26 seconds / DVD - 36 minutes
Track listing:
CD:
1. Sunrise
2. What Am I to You?
3. Those Sweet Words
4. Carnival Town
5. In the Morning
6. Be Here to Love Me
7. Creepin' In
8. Toes
9. Humble Me
10. Above Ground
11. The Long Way Home
12. The Prettiest Thing
13. Don't Miss You At All
14. Sleepless Nights
15. Moon Song
16. I Turned Your Picture To The Wall
DVD:
1. In The Morning (live)
2. She (live)
3. Long Way Home (Iive)
4. Creepin' In (live)
5. Sunrise (music video)
6. What Am I To You? (music video)
7. Norah interview
Re-issue of her second album released in February this year,
with three bonus tracks. This time there’s an accompanying DVD.
The American songbird’s writing is a sensual hybrid of Country and Jazz.
Citing Willie Nelson and Ray Charles as her principle influences, she’s
produced a remarkable and engaging sound. Funnily enough, I had a promo copy
of the debut CD, Come Away With Me, well before it became a huge hit.
I didn’t ever think it would be such a sensation. Just goes to show how off
the mark music reviewers can be !
It took some time to generate serious interest. Feels Like Home
had no such problems – with a greater expanse of music – helped along by band
collaborations. At times you’d think Ben Mink and KD Lang had given some input
e.g. Carnival Town.
Comparisons rapidly disappear when you get to the guts of this fantastic
collection. The plaintive vocals barely reach fever pitch, except maybe on
Adam Levy’s In The Morning. She’s also put to the test as she magnificently
duets with the Queen of Country – Dolly Parton on Sneaking In, written
by band-mate Lee Alexander.
The marked difference between this and its predecessor is the feeling of a more
collective cohesiveness as the musicians have clearly gelled together on their
stage performances (which can be found on the four songs on the DVD). This
massive progression has transferred to the studio, and it shows. The ‘live‘
quality is wonderfully replicated as they’ve honed their ‘band‘ skills.
By her own admission she’s not the most dynamic of pianists, though she's
competent enough to facilitate her musical needs.
Vocally, there’s a hint of Billie Holiday, without the screechy edge. The
three bonus tracks are wonderful, particularly the country – fuelled Sleepless Nights.
The DVD provides an opportunity to see her live with her five-piece Handsome
Band. Four tracks filmed in the intimate surroundings of the Teatro Nuevo
Alcala Madrid in March this year, it proves she’s got what it takes when
fronting her fans. It’s a shame there isn’t more of the show, but is more
than compensated for by the inclusion of her breathtaking rendition of Gram
Parsons’ She. There are also two music videos for Sunrise and
What Am I To You?, followed by a 17 minute interview in London.
She defines her influences, Don Williams, Johnny Cash, Bill Evans, Dinah
Washington, Otis Redding, her sound which has evolved, and the way her life
has changed over the past couple of years. She’s very candid about her
limitations and her strengths. A very interesting insight indeed.
Excellent double-disc package. Quality, credible music from start to finish.
And check out
Norah Jones.com
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
