0304

CDN$ 6.48

Why pick on a girl for taking a chance? After experiencing flagging sales, Jewel has become proactive and given herself a cosmetic and artistic makeover. But 0304 isn t the winsome thrush s first leap into the unknown. Hiring Shakira producer Lester A. Mendez to give her solemn, folksy songs a pop sheen and some dance beats isn t as radical as starring as a Civil War widow in an Ang Lee film. Besides it s a lot more interesting to hear her squeeze her chaste, malleable soprano around an accordion solo in the futuristic namedropping fable Intuition or her voice a beat-driven condemnation of the George W. Bush regime on America to see her sashaying on the silver screen in those tight bodices and hoop skirts. Although she has changed the very structure and sound of her songs, Jewel s undeniable talent shines through. She still has a way with words and her voice is remains as pure as an Alaskan stream. --Jaan Uhelszki