Jewel - This Way

It's easy to see that Jewel wants to lighten up. With two previous multimillion-selling albums (and a couple of much-scorned but popular books) filled with earnest, clueless revelations behind her, the singer-songwriter comes a little closer to ground with This Way. "Give it hell 'til the end," a former compatriot urges her on "Till We Run Out of Road," her version of Jackson Browne's "The Load Out." Could that be a hard-bitten road warrior deep inside the woman who makes a point of pronouncing the O's in the opening line ("Mirror, mirror") of this CD's "Serve the Ego"? Maybe. But despite her icky streak's spread to cutesy jokes ("Jesus Loves You"), Jewel hasn't quite abandoned her old judgmental ways (in "I Won't Walk Away," she spies a couple "resisting being one") and ambitions to, you know, really say something, as in the "Desolation Row"-lite "The New Wild West." Still, with some nice, if bland, arrangements set around her, This Way is the Jewel album most likely to appeal to Jewel non-fans. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

 Very Nice Work!
This could be construed as the album that made Jewel a crossover star. Standing Still is the catchy first track that appealed to the masses, even the country crowds as she opened for Garth Brooks here and there. Wonderful lyrics and catchy tunes make up this 14 song set. Cleveland is a wonderful song, and Love Me, Just Leave Me Alone shows Jewel has the juxsy to boss the boys around. Great album all around, no doubt about that. April 21, 2008

 one of my favorite albums
It rocks, it swings, it's cute, it's passionate. I listen to this album over and over again and it never gets old. Jewel has a refreshingly wise yet innocent outlook on life and a great voice. She's not afraid to experiment, but no matter the genre or style, her music is genuine, plain and simple. April 7, 2008

 Good Country or F olk
I've liked Jewel and sexually since her major label debut in like 98. This is a much more similar album toi her debut that got her on the MTV spotlight. Jewel certainly is a big sell out, and where's the money they put into it? She has a nice body, voice and can play for a woman which is rare. December 25, 2007

 More albums should be done "This Way"
Although I just got this recently, I already notice a lot of the songs to be different than her older work, on a country note, on a romantic note, on a lighter note. She sounds like the Jewel never heard before, and I like it! It might take a while, though, as seen in the rating. So far I have only listened to this once, but I look forward to hearing from it again; I mean, why else would I get it?! My favorite song on here has to be "Till We Run Out of Road" because it reminds of those days when I had to make those transitions in life and just decided to ride one path for the longest time. Oh, it is my latest Jewel CD and I don't think I have made a bad choice at all. I may have fallen for it as much as my older ones and don'y even know it yet. This leaves a decent aftertaste in my mind after the nice food for thought I have been given, and on this album she just may have it right. Keep up the good work Jewel; I am right behind you! August 1, 2006

 Different But Great!
Jewel is one of my favorite artists, after Tori Amos. It's strange that I like them both, because they have completely different styles of music. On her fourth release, Jewel's musical style has become much less minimalistic, with a whole band behind her for most of the songs. Kind of like what Tori Amos did with From The Choirgirl Hotel.

It's interesting how Jewel was seven years older when she made This Way than when she made Pieces of You, and yet her voice sounds much younger. Her voice sounds very childlike on this disc. Her voice also sounds like it's straining a lot more than it used to. She doesn't use her deep voice anymore-which sounds a lot better than her high one. Need I say that her voice does not improve with age?

But the songs are good. My favorite track is Love Me, Just Leave Me Alone, followed by The New Wild West and Everybody Needs Someone Sometime. Jewel may have gone country, but she's still got it. May 20, 2006

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