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Jewel -
Goodbye Alice In Wonderland
(Atlantic) And there's really nothing not to like about it. It's the Jewel we all got to know in the mid-90s, with gentle rhymes, lush orchestrations behind the acoustic guitar, catchy tunes and that voice - that voice that floats somewhere around the ceiling. And I mean that in a good way. I like Jewel, and I like this album. It's just that I liked where she was headed with the last one, and I'm sort of bummed that we're back to the beginning here. But the music business isn't necessarily about what I like - or what she likes. It's about safety, and not straying too far from the fan base. So in that regard, I can imagine the folks at WEA are liking this one just fine, thanks. "Again And Again" is your mainstream hit; "Long Slow Slide" is just fine too, thanks. I'll resist the urge to follow the pack, and compare all of these (especially "Stephenville TX") to Bob Dylan. It's just that once the idea was planted in my head, it was hard to shake. Nothing flashy here folks. Buy it, add it to the collection, and move along. Recommended. (But I'll sneak "0304" back into the deck every now and then. And turn it up. Loud.)
- Doug Boynton |
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Two
and one-half microphones (out of four)