Jewel Album: “Perfectly Clear”

Anyone who has followed Jewel's career beyond the obvious hit singles knows that a country record has been in her cards for a while, and sixth studio album "Perfectly Clear" fits the bill. Whether it be quality album tracks like "Cleveland" from 2001's "This Way" or "Stephenville, TX" from 2006's "Goodbye Alice In Wonderland," each of her albums (save for 2003's misjudged "0304") has demonstrated her potential for the genre. Accusations that the Alaskan singer/songwriter is courting Middle America to sell more records cannot be disproved, but what matters is whether or not the results are worth repeated listens. They are.

Fans of Jewel's body of work not particularly privy to country music can relax and dig in - "Perfectly Clear" is a Jewel album first, a country CD second. The witty, romantic lyricism and catchy melodies typical of her earlier records are both here and stronger than ever. The only difference is typical country music instruments like violins and steel guitars take on an eminent presence. It is executed wonderfully, however; those waiting for the next rootin tootin' Gretchen Wilson record or even country purists should find the album thoroughly absorbing.

Not much has changed as far as Jewel's themes are concerned, and it tends to work for the genre. "Love Is a Garden" joins the ranks of "Break Me" or "Morning Song" with its sticky-as-Christmas-tree sappiness, but its melody is colorful and invigorating. The same goes for "Two Become One," a great improvement on a track from "0304," as well the album's formidable lead single, "Stronger Woman" which has met respectable success on country radio and even pierced the pop charts with its feel-good theme and strong, confident vocal delivery.

Follow-up single "I Do" has the ripest potential for large-scale success, not to mention considerable crossover appeal. With a splendid, chugging, instantly memorable melody and gorgeous lyrics, the song is quintessential Jewel.

"Because love is a game until it's played/And if it's lost, it can't ever be saved/We have heaven to gain and hell to lose/And the difference is up to me and you/So if you will, I will stop saying I won't/And start saying I do."

"Anyone But You" is a passionate, drink-yourself-into-oblivion lamentation of a ballad, making it the most clichedly country song of the record. Jewel pulls it off with her solemn, plaintive vocals extracting emotion out of every note. Meanwhile, "Rosey and Mick," a track that has spent years in her setlists, turns the similar theme of lovers' trysts into a sweeping, widescreen radio-friendly light country rocker with another instantly memorable hook.

"Thump Thump" and "Loved By You (Cowboy Waltz)" also sport memorable melodies that beckon the repeat button in addition to adventurous song structures that reveal different facets of Jewel's considerable talent. "Perfectly Clear," a stark, ingratiating ballad, concludes the album in top-notch fashion.

Jewel is going to retain her existing fanbase and successfully court new listeners if "Perfectly Clear" is given the attention it has coming to it. She should even win back former listeners if they know what's best for them. So she kicked up her heels and had a little fun in 2003. Get over it. These new songs are meaty and substantial with lyrical bite, lovely melodies and the sharpest vocal work of her career.

What more do you want?

I've been following Jewel's career since I was 12 years old (I am now in my 20s). I've always just found something so refreshingly honest in her approach to making music. She does it for the real love of it and she's always been striving to get remembered as a songwriter first and a hit-maker second. While that may mean that she's fallen off many people's radar since her huge splash of a debut album, it also means she's tread a unique career path for those fans willing to stick with her.

I thought her last album, 2006's "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland," was perhaps her best record yet. It was a wonderful collection of songs that were obviously deeply personal. I hated the fact that her record company didn't seem to pay attention to it, or to Jewel herself. I was frankly relieved to learn that she had switched to a teeny-tiny new record company and would be fully embracing the country aesthetic her music has had for years. This wasn't a new venture for Jewel. She's always been the daughter of a cowboy and her songs have always had the ballad-y, storytelling quality of old-school country. There have been songs like "Do You," "Cleveland," "Everybody Needs Someone Sometime," "Stephenville, TX," and even "You Were Meant for Me" on all of albums, excepting 2003's out-of-character 0304.

"Perfectly Clear" completely reaches its potential. Jewel has stated that she was inspired by albums like Linda Ronstadt's "Heart Like a Wheel" when creating this album: a collection of less than a dozen songs that you can fully appreciate and absorb in one sitting. There isn't any filler or fat on this album. Each song was clearly approached with all the care and emotion they deserved. The hooks are immediate, the production is gentle and not at all intrusive and the songwriting is the same blend of quirky self-deprication and insightful gravitas that I've come to expect from Jewel.

"Perfectly Clear" may just be the best album Jewel has yet released. It instantly captures every aspect of this musician that I've enjoyed for so many years. It's sweet, romantic, occasionally funny, and always the unique document of one unique woman. No one else could have made this album and I continue to applaud Jewel for leading the career journey SHE wants to lead. I really hope she finds the success she deserves in the country music world.

Well all right, Jewel most likely decided to do country music this time because of the poor sales of her last cd, 2006's "Goodbye Alice In Wonderland". I have all of Jewel's cds, and I like her talent, but sometimes she's off the mark. "Perfectly Clear" is okay. It's no Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton or even Carrie Underwood. A good idea to utilize John Rich (of Big & Rich) to help produce, but the results just kind of lie there.

"Perfectly Clear" is unmoving all the way through. Background music. Average Jewel. A valiant attempt that didn't quite succeed, but also not a complete failure. The songs are pleasant, and they come and go without a second thought. After listening all week, I didn't feel there was a true pop or country hit on this disc. Jewel is capable of some very good music like "Who Will Save Your Soul?", "Hands", "Standing Still", "Intuition" and "Good Day". There aren't any songs like these on "Perfectly Clear".

Now don't get me wrong, some of the songs have good melodies like "I Do", "Love Is A Garden", "Thump, Thump", "Perfectly Clear" and "Stronger Woman", but overall things are rather bland here.

That being said, I know I'm going to anger many Jewel fans, but I still think it was quite daring (and excellent) what she did on "0304". Fans felt she sold out, but I saw it as artistic growth. For some reason, Jewel retreated, almost afraid of what she had done and seemingly from the negative reaction of her fans, but fans should not hamper an artist's creative juices. For Jewel, "Perfectly Clear" isn't far off from what she started with on "Piece Of You", so I don't understand the reviews saying that she's sold out, or that she's terrible doing country music. Folk music isn't that different from country music.

The problem isn't that Jewel went country. The problem is that she didn't deliver the goods. There aren't any hits here. The cd is pleasant, but lifeless. It's like eating and ice cream--tastes good, but ultimately it's empty calories.

Next time, I'd like to see Jewel do something daring with her folk roots. She should take a page from John Mellencamp. He has demonstrated that he knows how to blend folk, pop, rock, blues, hip hop, country into something magical and all his own. Jewel really needs to step up to the plate at this point in her career.

I LOVE Jewel, this cd is a bit lacking. It's missing that fire and passion she had in her voice and lyrics in Pieces of You and Spirit. It's just sort of middle of the road Jewel, not so special.

I have always been a fan of Jewel's but I am really having a hard time with this CD. I just don't "feel" it. I think there are only 3 songs I kinda like on the CD. I usually feel confident buying her music but after this I will definetly be listening to samples beforehand from now on...