It may grab you at first with its easy acoustic chords and that sweet voice you know and love so well. But keep listening to Norah Jones' new album, Not Too Late, and your opinion may change. Disappointingly, Jones' third album often mirrors her second in its country feel, abundant in Dixie Chicks-esque vocals and cheesy electric guitar riffs straight out of Texas.
Where did the old Norah go? The piano-playing, soulful jazz singer who listeners fell in love with in 2002 only appears in isolated patches these days, leaving dedicated fans sometimes wondering why she's recording with Blue Note and not Sugar Hill.
Some snatches of Jones' old self still linger. The album's title track, "Not Too Late," is a smooth and simple love song that showcases a newfound emotional maturity for Jones. "Sinkin' Soon" sounds like it was recorded in an old-time speakeasy and reeks of cheap booze and Billie Holiday. And "My Dear Country" is a bold and nightmarish waltz clearly dedicated to the 2006 midterm election.
Every relationship has its ups and downs. This reviewer is in it for the long run with Norah, so although Not Too Late may only merit a two and a half-star rating, she's still a five-star kind of girl.
-Katie Macpherson
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