Perfectly Clear

Jewel and producer John Rich’s joint efforts

Singer, songwriter and actress Jewel can hardly surprise anyone with her decision to record her first country album for everything in her creative work has been leading to this for quite some time. Her 2003’s attempt to become a pop diva did was not crowned with much success and the 2006 album Good-Bye Alice In Wonderland had an important mission to get the back the fans’ acknowledgement to the singer. Yet most of them have remained faithful to their idol all the same for her talent is recognized by many a folk and rock fan. The previous album has fulfilled its task perfectly well so that today Jewel again allows herself to deviate from the planned course a bit releasing a country record Perfectly Clear consisting of both new material and some already known songs presented in their new versions. The album’s producer is John Rich of the country rock duo Big & Rich who has added absolutely soft-core slide guitars, fiddles and completely unheard drums. The producer and singer’s joint efforts have resulted in a rare example of interesting, stylish and quality work close as ever to her most successful album Pieces Of You.

Perfectly Clear: country in its softest manifestation

Album Perfectly Clear consisting of 11 tracks lasting forty minutes can be called country in its softest manifestation. The record will be great for everyone who values nice calm music and powerful female vocals. Naturally the album’s main theme is the relationship and all its facets although there are some introspective compositions here the first one being single Stronger Woman pleasing with a memorable chorus and a great arrangement whereas a more rhythmic and emotional I Do is an example of Jewel’s splendid singing Jewel which we haven’t heard for some time from her. Ballad Love Is A Garden is one of the most romantic songs on the album and surprises with the soulfulness in the performance as well as Rosey & Mick telling a love story with a sad ending. No doubt one of the most beautiful songs you have heard lately Anyone But You will become the best present for the one you want to make a love confession for it renders the most intimate feelings quite precisely and the remake of an old song Two Become One will be surely appreciated by those who liked the original and those who hear it for the first time. Another slow track Till It Feels Like Cheating is an example of mature lyrics from Jewel dwelling upon the instability of long relationships while Everything Reminds Me Of You is another sincere confession full of the strongest emotions. The record closes with the title song, a piano ballad filled with despair and strength of an independent woman who turns another page in her life.

The artist’s new side

It looks like the days of the real fame for Jewel are left in the past, and it has been already over a decade that her albums are only popular among her most faithful fans. Yet with the release of Perfectly Clear the situation can actually change to the better for the singer. First of all among those fond of country music there are a lot of people who will appreciate the new versions of the old songs, second, the singer has managed to find a wonderful harmony between her vocals and the arrangements that are new for her. The artist’s voice organically fits the fiddle piano accompaniment so it seems that she has been singing this kind of music for all her life. At the same time folk elements are easily recognized on every composition which in fact could be predicted and they do not at all seem inappropriate here. That is why it will be no wonder if those who have never heard of Jewel at all before find something for them on Perfectly Clear and those acquainted with the artist’s creative work the new album will reveal her new side. Whatever happens the singer’s professional growth is evident: trying her hand in a new direction she has still remained herself not going too far away from her native folk and has succeeded to surprise us.