THE FALL By Norah Jones

As soon as I saw the hound on the CD cover, I should have known Norah Jones’ new album would be a dog. Eschewing her mellow, jazzy sound that made her previous three CDs hits, Norah has assembled a new band and channeled Tom Waits to produce a grittier, louder, more funky album. Not to my taste. GRADE: C

14 thoughts on “THE FALL By Norah Jones

    1. george Post author

      I’m all for artists exploring new directions and trying new styles, Jeff. But this new Norah Jones CD is a disaster. I own her previous three CDs and play them frequently.

      Reply
  1. Deb

    I have her first two albums and enjoy them very much. I love that “quiet storm” sound–especially as background music during dinner or while reading. I heard some of this on NPR yesterday and was not very impressed. It’s not that she’s trying something new or going in a new direction, it’s just that she doesn’t sound at all comfortable in what she’s trying to do. She sounded strained on the couple of tracks I heard. She’s trying for a Tom Waits vibe–but Tom Waits has lived a certain kind of life which allows him to sound authentic; she doesn’t sound at all authentic because she hasn’t lived that life.

    I guess I’m just one of those Philistines who will keep playing “Come Away with Me.”

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Count me among the Philistines, Deb. I love “Come Away With Me” and Norah’s previous three CDs. But THE FALL is a complete departure from her previous work. I didn’t like any of the songs on the album. If I wanted to listen to a grittier sound, I’d listen to Tom Waits.

      Reply
  2. Patti Abbott

    I listened to it on NPR and was unimpressed, too. Good way to save yourself some bucks. Then I listened to another guy on there who was channeling Rod Stewart.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Artists like to change and that’s okay. But with this edgy sound and radical style, clearly Norah is trying to reach a younger audience, Patti. Her new CD didn’t appeal to me at all.

      Reply
  3. Richard Robinson

    I’m really NOT a fan of Jones. I’m one of those (there are many of us) who think she’s a one hit wonder who had a single hit song and has somehow turned herself into a phenom from it. These days that seems how popular culture works, hit or miss, one person is a sensation and the next disappears without a ripple. Talent seems to have little to do with it. Example, Miracle Kicker sells small, new “super group” Them Crooked Vultures are selling like hotcakes.

    Nora Jones: I bought the first album and regretted it. No thanks to this one.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      You’re right about Norah Jones parleying her success with her first album into a successful touring and recording career, Rick. But each CD she released after her debut was less good, less satisfying. And now this!

      Reply
  4. James Reasoner

    That’s a horrible cover, although I’ll bet that’s a pretty good dog. I like the first Norah Jones album a lot and played it all the time for a while. The second one was okay but not as good. Didn’t know there was a third album before this one. When my daughters were in college in Denton, they often went to the pizza place where Jones got her start as a performer, which has since been torn down and the property scheduled to be the location of a chain drugstore, I think (which doesn’t have anything to do with anything, of course).

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Horrible cover and horrible songs, James. Norah is trying to tap into a younger, hipper market. But she’s going to lose plenty of her former fan base if she keeps this up. I was less enthralled with each Norah Jones CD after the first one.

      Reply
  5. Drongo

    James, it may not have anything to do with anything, but I for one enjoy those little tidbits, the small details of life.

    Reply
  6. James Reasoner

    George, you may be interested to know that the music critic at the local newspaper reviewed this CD today and really liked it, giving it four out of five stars. I think I’ll go with your review of it, although I’m just curious enough to check out a couple of the songs.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Our local newspaper’s music critic liked THE FALL, too, James. But THE FALL does not have the Norah Jones style that most of her fans expect. You’re wise to listen to some samples online before you decide to buy.

      Reply

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