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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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A leap of faith. Not big enough a leap Norah Jones’ debut album Come Away with Me (2002) was one of the most overrated albums of all-time. Just how it managed to sell in such large quantities was way beyond me. 20 million sales in fact, winning five Grammy’s in one night at the age of 22, takes some doing. Seven years on and there’s a sonic transformation on her ‘break-up’ album The Fall. W/c 23rd November it was sitting at 24 on the UK album chart, while the following week, it dropped to No.47. Having split with her ex-boyfriend and double bassist Lee Alexander, Jones is keen to move on, but it should have been a bolder one. She’s also kicked her Handsome Band into touch so the overall sound is far more expansive and experimental losing much of the laconic country-lounge style of her previous offerings. From album to album her sales have dipped considerably, so maybe a transition was long overdue. In the process, in came new producer Jacquire King who engineered Tom Waits’ Mule Variations, Jones’ favourite album as it happens. Also, in came guitarists Marc Ribot and Smokey Hormel from Waits’ recording sessions bringing a total, but subtle, overhaul. This is probably the best move of all. Adding to her tracklisting scope she’s co-written with Ryan Adams (Light As A Feather) , Will Sheff of Okkervil River (Stuck) and frequent partner Jesse Harris (Even Though / Tell Yer Mama). Her new sound, slightly rougher around edges; can be heard from the get-go on dense choogling single Chasing Pirates with that lazy vocal remaining intact. It’s perfect Radio 2 fodder.
There’s a mellow funky groove on the next one, Even Though with one of the afore mentioned guitarists adding rough subliminal strums. Despite recruiting alt-country legend Adams, there’s no magic on Light As A Feather as the song gets bogged down with drone-like guitars and the mood is more sombre that you’d normally get from Adams. Later, a familiar brooding I Wouldn’t Need You reverts, virtually, back to her silky balladeering with not such dazzling results –it’s more like filler than thriller. Next, Waiting, takes her back to around 2002 unfortunately, as things if not excitingly, where shifting slightly forwards. Breaking the snooze mould, It’s Gonna Be’s tribal drumming and hard 60s tinged organ are very welcome. Her most challenging and engaging song comes two thirds in – You’ve Ruined Me, presumably a dig at Alexander. Jones’s vocal is really stretched to the max and it goods to hear for a change. After a drifting one -dimensional Back To Manhattan and shambolic Stuck, emerges a sweet ballad December, though we’ve heard it all before somewhere in the loungy past. Dense Tell Yer Mama is plodding mid-paced attempt to perk things up but the song goes nowhere breaking little sweat other than some wiry guitar drop-ins, with closer Man Of The Hour turn out to be a damp squib. Despite her concerted efforts, The Fall won’t bring her a much needed further rise in popularity. The verdict – Disappointing.
Weblink: norahjones.com
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
