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Norah Jones 
Come Away with Me

 

Come Away with Me

 


5 of 5 stars Smoke & Honey October 5, 2002 

"This is really the record I wanted to make." -Nora Jones

Norah Jones was born in Brooklyn and raised in Dallas, Texas. Her love for Jazz evolved while attending Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She then majored in jazz piano at the University of North Texas for two years.

She then took a trip to New York and while this started as a summer vacation, Norah was soon found herself hanging around local songwriters and became inspired to write some original songs.

"The music scene is so huge. I found it very exciting. I especially enjoyed hearing amazing songwriters at places like The Living Room. Everything opened up for me. I couldn't leave."

She has performed with the Laszlo band and in Wax Poetic. Eventually she joined a band with local songwriter Jesse Harris where she sang and played piano.

In January 2001 she signed with Blue Note Records. This is her first Blue Note release and was produced by Arif Mardin, Jay Newland and Craig Street.

Norah includes classic tunes from Hank Williams', "Cold, Cold Heart," J.D. Loudermilk's "Turn Me On," and Hoagy Charmichael's "The nearness of You." Then she delights with originals by her bandmates. Jesse Harris', "Don't Know Why" and Lee Alexander, "Seven Years" are beautiful songs that leave you so nostalgic for the past, yet they are new songs.

She is inspired by the music of yesterday and loves Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles.

I can't believe she has just tuned 23!

Ok, so I listened to this CD about 10 times today! Here is what I think of each song:

Don't Know Why - A slow seduction of words that evoke a feeling of absolute longing, yet a certain resolution instead of taking action.

Seven Years - Innocence personified.

"Fragile as a leaf in autumn
Just fallin' to the ground
Without a sound"

Cold Cold Heart - Norah's voice melts this silky smooth song.

Feelin' The Same Way - Nice twisty little number that seems to spin in circles. This song brings out the smoky elements in her voice.

Come Away With Me - The pace drops to melting snow. It is terribly romantic as she sings of wanting to wake up with the rain falling on a tin roof in the arms of the one she loves.

Shoot The Moon - Moody Blue Song.

 

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Turn Me On - The pace picks up and Norah sings of a flower waiting to bloom and a light bulb in a dark room. Cute song actually. One of my favorites.

Lonestar - Country flavor. She wishes for a sign in the night sky.

I've Got to See You Again - Pure seduction. Norah's voice really comes alive in this song. I'm thinking this is what we can look forward to in the future!

Painter Song - Fun, dreamy melody about being a painter. French café flair fantasy about being in a painting.

One Flight Down - Almost matter-of-fact. Norah's voice is very clear in this song and quite strong. I like trying to figure out Jesse Harris' song with all their secret meanings.

Nightingale - Almost has a lullaby quality.

The Long Day is Over - Perhaps the slowest song, perfect to fall asleep to.

The Nearness of You - Then, this will wake you up a bit, yet it still has a sleepy and breathy quality.

Smooth Sexy Selections in a Dreamy World of Jazz, Soul and Country. Nora Teases the listener with her voice, mercilessly.

Norah Jones: Feels Like Home 

Norah Jones: Feels LIke Home

 

5 of 5 stars I'll be with you someday, someday May 9, 2004

Norah Jones seems to live in a dreamy world of Jazz, Soul and Country music. At times it is difficult to figure out which direction she is taking all while it feels like her voice drifts back and forth between lazy summer days and melancholy remembrance. I like her style and the pace of the music because it brings out the subtle beauty of her sexy voice.

If you are looking for an upbeat CD, you might want to take a different path home. If you want to be bathed in the soft silky notes on this CD, then you are in the right place. This is music for a leisurely walk out in the country, a bubble bath or just laying around in bed dreamily reading poetry or making love on a summer afternoon. Kissing slowly on a rainy day might also be a good option. ;)

"Feels Like Home" is definitely a calming, almost country escape. The lyrics are intriguing and I enjoy the metaphors and especially the lines:

The current is strong from what I've heard
It'll whisk you down the stream
But I never seem to have the time
So my toes just touch the water

As I sit here in my fluffy pink slippers I was thinking that the entire song of "Toes" seems to be speaking of the desire to fall in love and you can just imagine if Nora jumped in she would be swirling in some whirlpool of desire. The image is relaxing; yet there is more, there are future possibilities still undiscovered. I like the fact that her songs never hit dead ends and it always feels like the lyrics are open and Nora is leading the words through the music.

I was wondering if her style is in any way connected (in a hereditary kind of way) to how her father plays the sitar. It could be because she doesn't seem to ever seem rushed or at least, she sings as her heart tells her to sing, just as her father improvises when playing the sitar. Nora Jones' family is fascinating for many reasons. Not to mention, her father's influence on the Beatles.

Norah Jones was born in Brooklyn and raised in Dallas, Texas. Her love for Jazz evolved while attending Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She then majored in jazz piano at the University of North Texas for two years. Nora's Texas roots are showing more than ever in this new album.

If you love "Feels Like Home," you will really love "Come Away With Me." Both have a laid back feel and Nora's voice is sultry and teases the listener mercilessly. There are times when you just want to think about lyrics and this music gives you enough time for contemplation and is definitely relaxing. I enjoy the consistent tranquil mood and while this music might not be for everyone, there is definitely room for music that "feels like home." I'm pretty sure Norah's voice could adapt to a variety of musical styles and I'm sure she will follow her heart. What she is doing is magical, but I'm sure the future is wide open for whatever she is dreaming about.

Look for her father's music in Pather Panchali (1954) and the rest of the Apu Trilogy by director Satyajit Ray. Full Circle: Carnegie Hall 2000 is an amazing introduction to "sitar music."

Norah Jones' music is for the romantic in you or the person who just needs to relax and melt into meandering music.

~The Rebecca Review

 

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