With apologies to Ace and
Marcia Brady Maureen McCormick, I’m going to be honest: In general, I can’t stand popular country music. It comes from growing up in a farming community, mixed with memories of farm boys driving super-sized trucks up and down the parking lots for fun. (I do like Bonnie Raitt, who is generally considered a country singer, for her music and politics. But even that was spoiled, back when she showed up at a Lilith Fair and brought her fans. When I say two worlds collided, that’s literally; my then girlfriend and I almost got jumped outside the port-a-janes. Yeah, ugly.)
All of that considered, I really think I’ll be buying a country CD at some point this year. That’s because Jewel — yes, that Jewel — has made a country album
called Perfectly Clear, due out in June.
She’s already charting the country markets. Her nicely titled new single called “Stronger Woman” scored the Hot Shot Debut at No. 50 on Hot Country Songs this week. You can hear it on her MySpace page.
I wasn’t a Jewel fan the first time I heard “Who Will Save Your Soul”; I’ll admit to that as well. But then I heard her live. (Probably also at a Lilith Fair. That’s where I spent the 1990s.) Jewel is one of those artists who emote live in a way that is impossible to translate to recordings. Plus, she can yodel. Seriously. It was pretty amazing to hear.
In case it’s been as long for you as it has for me, here’s the video for “Hands,” which was always one of my favorites by her.
Hmm. A little depressing, a little spiritual, and just next door to rootsy. Yeah, I can see the jump to country music. I think I’ll have to give the new album a shot.
