Jewel’s latest album, “This Way,” her third, contains a hint of folk music with a twist of poetry. She lets her elegant and earthy style shine through. I have always been a fan of Jewel. I admire and respect the fact that she writes her own music.For this album she had more control over the music, much as she had control on her first album, “Pieces of You.” “This Way” displays originality and growth.
For this album Jewel worked with producer-guitarist Dann Huff in Nashville. Maybe that is the reason for the Western flavor to the music. The music itself sounds more like adult rock rather than pop. Jewel is starting to get up in the ranks with female singer-songwriters like Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge. She is one of the most richly idiomatic female pop singers of her generation.
The first track is “Standing Still.” It is a sweet love song about how the absence of a loved one can alter a person’s feelings. “Jesus Loves You” is a loopy commentary with good old acoustics in the background of the lyrics.
The romantic ballad “Break Me” is where Jewel really shows her thoughts and projects her voice. Of course it does not compare to the great ballad of “Foolish Games” from a previous album.
I still believe that the best is yet to come for Jewel. I would give her third album the grade of a B. The fun folksy music could definitely be expanded for greater success on her next album.