I got this CD a week after it was released -- and had heard from two of my friends that they preferred this one over Come Away With Me
Now, to me, that's a ton of hype and a lot to live up ... well, let me say, that after a few listens, I wasn't sold so I sat it up on my CD pile to be returned to at some point
That moment is now ... ha
Norah Jones - Feels Like Home: YMMV (our grade: C)
Before people start calling me nuts and questioning my taste, I must say that I really really loved Come Away With Me -- I can listen to the CD over and over, non-stop -- to me, it's a classic of standard-sounding/torch song music
Norah branches out with Feels Like Home -- there are many different styles on this CD. Unfortunately, none of it really stands out from the pack -- and mind you, this is not a concept album, so I don't think it was meant to be that way
I feel let down because I bought the Cowboy Junkies debut album, many moons ago -- to me, this is nothing really that new -- and I don't feel that Norah's voice necessarily matches country, honky tonk, or 70ish folky tones on some of the tunes here -- it gives me a feel much like the Peter Malick CD from last year, it's not great
I have no problems with "Sunrise", the re-tooling of "What Am I To You?" (even though personally I think the version from the JPN Come Away With Me is better), and the sweet "Those Sweet Words" -- the only songs that approach the heights of CAWM are "Long Way Home", "The Prettiest Thing", and "Don't Miss You At All"-- just simply arranged and Norah telling stories with her voice.
Essentially, the midsection of this album is dabble here, dabble there -- and nothing really stands out as particulary memorable -- so give me the first 3 and the last 3 -- and downsize the middle.
I guess I'm putting the bar damn high -- but I really loved Come Away With Me -- and this album is kind of all over the place and nothing stands out to me and grabs me to pay attention -- all this variety with no obvious quality leaves me cold.
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