Jones' Come Away With Me is a Refreshing Change of Pace

There seem to be three categories of female artists in popular American music today. The first is comprised of Britney Spears and the like, artists who can't really sing and show much skin as possible to compensate. The second category contains artists like Christina Aguilera and Pink, artists who actually have good, even great, singing voices, but feel like they have to make their bodies the main selling point, in order to keep up with their less talented counterparts. Then there is the third category that has just recently emerged, the so-called "Anti-Britneys", artists like Avril Lavigne and Michelle Branch who write songs and play guitars, but come off as whiny little girls, and in the end sound just as manufactured as the previous two categories.

This is why Norah Jones' first national release Come Away With Me is such a breath of fresh air. She fits into none of these categories. The twenty-three year old phenom's music is simple, unadorned, mature, and as a result, this album contains some of the most beautiful little three-minute songs I've ever heard. With her honey voice, delicate piano playing and her band's subtle arrangements, this album has a warm, innocent, familiar feeling that is evident on even the first listen. A smooth blend of original material (written by Jones, her guitarist Jesse Harris and bassist Lee Alexander) and a few choice covers, putting this album on your stereo is like sitting by the fireplace after spending all day out in the cold. The lyrics aren't complex, but their simplicity adds to the easy, relaxing tone of the album.

Though the album has been released by legendary jazz label Blue Note Records, even Jones herself has said this is not a jazz album. She is clearly influenced by jazz legends like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. But her Texas upbringing led her to be influenced by the country twang of artists like Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline, which can be heard on songs like "Seven Years" "Lonestar", "Painter Song" and her cover of Hank Williams, Sr.'s "Cold Cold Heart". One can also hear a hint of Joni Mitchell in Jones' songwriting; her compositions "Nightingale" and "Shoot The Moon" come to mind. Other highlights include the delightfully sweet opening track "Don't Know Why" (whose video was just nominated for the MTV2 Award at the recent Video Music Awards) and the quietly seductive "I've Got To See You Again" featuring a great violin part by Jenny Scheinman. But it is the title track that seems to exemplify the album's place in time. Whereas Christina Aguilera is licking her lips telling the listener "Come On Over" Norah Jones is gently whispering in the listener's ear to "Come Away With Me". I'll take the latter any day.