Norah Jones - Feels Like Home by Norah Jones (2004)

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Music reviews of Feels Like Home by Norah Jones (2004)

Music Review: The Accidental Superstar Returns
Rating: 5 Stars

Come Away With Me was released in early spring 2002 on Blue Note, a jazz label. Two years later it is still riding high in the Billboard charts, pressing down on its 110th week on the chart and close to selling 9 million copies Stateside. So it came with no surprise that the whole world's anticipation for the follow-up was nothing short of stratospheric. The album finally arrived in February 2004, "Feels Like Home" was the title, and gargantuan sales were ensured. Sure enough the album stormed to No.1 in 16 countries around the world, including the US where it shifted a staggering 1,022,000 copies in seven days - only the second album by a female artist to do so after Britney in 2000. The big question remains: does Feels Like Home live up to its predecessor?

The simple answer is no it does not. Come Away With Me was a landmark album, the biggest selling jazz album of all time and no doubt a classic. Every song was a beautiful composition with seductive lyrics and sweet vocals. The same can be said for Feels Like Home, but on a less grander scale. Norah certainly hasn't messed with the formula here which is very wise, but the song's don't hit you as hard as those on her debut, yet it's still a fantastic album that will grow on you. Take the first single, "Sunrise," which opens the album. A soft and soothing beat plays melodically as Norah introduces her sunlight vocals and harmonizes the chorus to irresistible addiction. "What Am I To You?" continues this trend but adds a country twang to the verses. "Those Sweet Words" has to be one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. You could just imagine Norah out in a desert or a field with her lover and no one to bother them, as she questions him on what he said - did he say those sweet words or not?

"Carnival Town" is one of the most relaxing and chilled songs on the album as Norah sings of attractions in a town. It sounds strange but it's beautiful and as she sings, "Is it lonely?" you realise just how in love with this woman you really are. "In The Morning" is a much more upbeat affair in which the beat gathers pace and Norah's vocals rise and fall to the composition. Another great song. "Be Here To Love Me" has a stomping beat that works very well with Norah's vocals. She sings in a very bluesy moody about love in a country way as her vocals are drawn out more and more to make another standout. "Creepin' In" is one of the most uptempo songs on the album and features, unfortunately, Dolly Parton. Yeah, we all know Dolly's a country legend, but I really can't stand her Barbie-like vocals! No disrespect to her, but this is the worst song on the album for me. "Toes" drags the album back up on top form as Norah sings of her toes just touching the water as the piano and drums play melodically in the background. Another brilliant track.

"Humble Me" is the longest song on the album, in which Norah sings of giving birth to a child. The father has deserted her, and she's now all alone - she turns to God for support and he responds. This is perhaps the most beautiful song on offer here, and the way it is so relaxed and emotional makes it so. A highlight for sure. "Above Ground" is another good song, with a very jazzy chorus - very sexy. Norah's vocals are incredibly seductive at this point. "The Long Way Home" has a plodding beat to begin with and is almost acoustic when Norah is singing - if it weren't for that guitar it certainly would be! "The Prettiest Thing" is just another fabulous and melodically beautiful song in which Norah addresses the prettiest thing she ever did see. The songs seems a bit awash in the rest of these brilliant songs, but it stands out after a while. The album then closes with "Don't Miss You At All" which is very similar to "The Nearness Of You" which closes Come Away With Me. A beautiful song to close the album - I could imagine listening to it as the snow gently falls outside my window in the winter.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

Norah has recently said in a magazine article, "Look, I get why people like my music. It's easy to listen to. It's easy to digest. It's not offensive. I get it. It's also not genius." She's spot on here. When you think about the compositions of Norah's songs, they're not exactly breaking any ground, but what they are doing is giving the public something to adore, something to treasure and something to believe in. Is there anything wrong with that? Hell no. Norah Jones is living proof that you can make simple music with basic instruments and catchy melodies. Doing it well like she does appeals to the masses and provokes a reaction in millions of listeners all over the world. Feels Like Home confirms this, as well as proving Norah's staying-power in the music industry.

Description of Feels Like Home by Norah Jones (2004)

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

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