Thursday, June 5, 2008 | midnight
Of all the mainstream rockers to undergo country makeovers recently, Jewel makes the most sense. Her 2003 dance-pop detour 0304 notwithstanding, the singer-songwriter has always had a strong roots connection, and it’s easy to hear country influences in her earlier work. Her 2001 album This Way was co-produced by Nashville veteran Dann Huff, and was infused with Southern-rock twang and energy. So the arrival of Perfectly Clear, her first album to be specifically marketed as a country release, is hardly a surprise.
It is, however, a bit of a disappointment, especially given the barnburners that showed up on the underappreciated This Way. Co-produced by John Rich of Big & Rich, Perfectly Clear is a calculated, understated and sometimes bland stab at country-radio success, and it fits quite well into the pop-oriented mold of current country hits. The retooled 0304 tune “Two Become One” and hired-songwriter-penned “Till It Feels Like Cheating” are big, empty productions that could easily attract plenty of attention from CMT, but showcase little of the quirky (and, yes, occasionally annoying) personality that Jewel is known for.
Other tunes sound like ’90s outtakes with a bit of banjo and pedal steel added to them, although “Rosey and Mick” is a nice character study, and “Thump, Thump” turns on a clever conceit. As a Jewel album, Perfectly Clear is perfectly average; if you’re looking for her best contribution to country music, you’d be better off checking out This Way.
The bottom line: **1/2
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