When I first heard that Jewel had put out an album partnering with Fisher-Price and Somerset Entertainment and called it
Lullaby, I was of two minds (I usually am). One the one hand I've always loved
Miss Kilcher's voice, but on the other - is this one last ditch in a new genre to try and bring her career back to where it started (selling albums). Her first album
Pieces of You is a personal favorite. That might not be the popular thing to admit, but I readily do so, except for the unfortunate titular track (blech). I remember the first listen through
Pieces - I popped it on and drifted off somewhere during 'Angel Standing By', thinking it was a lovely lullaby. It still is and appears on the new album alongside 10 originals - two in new form (Angel... & Gloria - from Joy - A Holiday Collection) and a few Lullaby standards (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Somewhere Over The Rainbow & Brahms Lullaby). I have to say that I'm a sucker for a good Lullaby album (I've posted a mix I made
Here &
Here) - operative word being good. There seems to be money in these things, I've seen quite a few renditions - the Kenny Loggins and two compilations (Lullaby: A Collection & On A Starry Night) are among ones I've enjoyed. Recently I've noticed these things popping up everywhere with a series "Rockabye Baby" doing full album renditions of artists from Metallica to Radiohead - seriously. So, with all of that in mind, the thoughts of Jewel doing a Lullaby album seems way more my cup of tea than most of the stuff out there for the babes in arms. I've often thought that I enjoyed Celine Dion's voice greatly, but I can't stand her songs. Since 'Pieces of You' I can't say that I've enjoyed an album of Jewel's - maybe a song here or there, but never more than that. This new Lullaby themed album highlights her voice and stripped down songwriting that is what I enjoyed about her to begin with. Sure, it's a bit juvenile & listening from beginning to end it's a bit too slow for much other than falling asleep to, but that's the purpose for which it's intended.
Sweet Dreams For You|Jewel
Rolling Stone Magazine likes to make lists, everybody these days likes to make lists. I suppose we could blame the Billboard charts or David Letterman, but it's probably just a reaction to the public outcry to rank what we love and hate. My friend Brian is overly obsessed with the R.S. mag and their opinions about music in general. I have found in organizing their lists and going through them that there is quite a lot of musical history lessons involved - whether or not one agrees with their overall assessments. (Can anyone seriously agree with their numerical evaluations?) "I like Byron, I give him a 42 but I can't dance to it!" - comes to mind. So, whether R.S. Mag's opinions actually represent those of the world at large or even the U.S. collective - I don't think they do, but that's not really the point. I think it might be fun to go through the albums on The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time one at a time and give my own personal opinions - cuz that's what I do.
What can be said about #1 on the list that has not already been said? Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band tops the list. Should it? Probably. One of the reasons this idea popped in my head was that this album just had a birthday at the beginning of last month it had been 42 years since its release. The Beatles had stopped touring and had begun their quibbling, I'm not a historian of the group, but from what I've read McCartney came up with the idea for the concept album - a fictional group and their zany adventures through music. (Sgt. Pepper coming from seeing a Salt & Pepper shaker) I don't think the others enjoyed how overly marketable it was, but sold it did - and well. Beyond the cover and baubles included in the orginal packaging is a solid album, not just solid - great, one of my favorites, if I had to give it a number on such a list - it'd be less than 10, maybe less than 5. What things do I look for on a "greatest albums of all time"? Stamina: does this album stand the test of time? Across the board. Playability: Can I play this album start to finish? Over and over. Musical taste is so varied I can't speak for anyone but myself. I love this album. If you haven't listened to it from the Title track blending it's way into Ringo singing a track tailor made for him all the way down to the crowning glory of the album "A Day In The Life", which to me is the best of what the Beatles were about - great collaboration. John & Paul both adding to the song, heavy on the John but with enough Paul to make it catchy here and there. The album leans heavily on experimentation - the overall concept, the inclusion of strange sounds that somehow work within the songs. I have to say the one Harrison piece is a little too heavy on the Sitar, but it's still a lovely number, I just wish he had been a little more comfortable with the instrument and with his songwriting at this point. Despite alarm clock in the annoying "Good Morning", I could listen to this album on repeat for quite some time before mixing things up. I just have never been a morning person and that song offends some inner part of my soul. What do you think? worthy of #1? Well, it is, so deal with it.
