Contemporary Pop Album Review: The Fall by Norah Jones

Norah Jones is certainly an anomaly in the pop music world, having started with the heavily jazz-influenced Come Away with Me; followed by the country-tinted Feels Like Home; and in 2007, Not Too Late, the first album in which she wrote or co-wrote every song.

Her most recent work, The Fall, released in November of 2009, once again shows her growth and maturity as an artist, as well as her adaptability to different styles. Unlike some of her contemporaries, however, no matter which genre she has taken on, she never seems to compromise her artistic integrity.

On this album, as announced on her official site, she has taken a different course once again, working with renowned producer and engineer Jacquire King, famous for his collaborations with such heavyweights as Tom Waits and Modest Mouse. She has also gathered an impressive array of talented instrumentalists, including drummer Joey Waronker, a former bandmate of Beck and R.E.M.; keyboardist James Poyser, who has worked with Erykah Badu and Al Green; and guitarist Mark Ribot, a collaborator with Tom Waits and Elvis Costello.

Before The Fall's official release, Jones released its first single, "Chasing Pirates," on October 13, 2009. Jones explained that on this song and on the record in general, she "just wanted the grooves to be more present and heavy," according to press releases. While still making use of her charming, sexy vocal style, Jones' song has quite a different feel to it than anything on Come Away with Me, or her other jazz/country-influenced albums. The strong 4/4 beat and distant echoes give it the atmosphere of a seafaring ballad.

The Fall, as a whole, is a concept album, detailing the ups and downs, and eventual falling apart, of a relationship. Listen to, for example, "Young Blood," in which Jones sings, "We'll imagine we're sleeping revolvers/Shotgun wedding in a strange SoHo." The highly vivid lyrics hint at sexual encounters and youthful lust that ultimately amount to nothing.

Elsewhere, on the mournful "I Wouldn't Need You," Jones laments the loss of (possibly) the same lover:

If I touched myself the way you touched me
If I could hold myself the way you hold me
Then I wouldn't need you, no, I wouldn't need you
No, I wouldn't need you to love me

Appropriately, the song's tempo and poignant piano chords evoke a feeling of longing, and perhaps nostalgia, for the former relationship. In a similar vein, the following track, "Waiting," conjures images of Jones at her loneliest, with lines such as:

Sinking embers glow
Melting icy snow
And I am waiting here
Waiting for you to come home

Although Jones is often categorized as a pop singer, many of these beautiful lyrics display her ability to express themes in a poetic sense. Likewise, her astonishing musical chops and chemistry with a number of different musicians reveal a deep well of talent, which she will hopefully continue to draw from as her career continues.

Nonetheless, some of the songs on The Fall may be disappointing to fans who have grown accustomed to Jones' jazz/country influences. Though her piano still serves to add character, the tracks have a markedly different flavor than those on Come Away with Me, Not Too Late, and other past efforts.

After giving the album repeat listens, however, you may have an entirely different impression than your initial one. Great albums have a tendency to do that: hiding many layers so that each repeat playing reveals more. For example, the solidly beat-laden "It's Gonna Be" can be seen as the "you've really changed" moment in a relationship, while also being a criticism of celebrity public image and tabloid pursuers.

The closing track, "Man of the Hour," is likely the most lighthearted of all the tracks, considering its reduction to honky-tonk piano and Jones' vocals. See if you can figure out which "man" she's referring to after the first listen.

While The Fall may not be as appropriate for a candlelit dinner as Jones' previous work, it is still an exhibition of her talent and versatility, and will likely appeal to hardcore fans as well as newcomers.