It’s been said not to judge a CD by its cover (or something to that effect). But a quick glance at “0304,” the latest record from Jewel, will show that she is not the same artist she used to be. Jewel has gone from a soft-spoken folk-inspired musician to a full fledged pop artist, camera-shy no longer.

She debuted her new look with the single “Intuition,” which will get stuck in your head not only because it is catchy, but because it is now on a commercial which seems to be played at every break. The song is unoriginal and only has the catchiness factor going for it. It’s appropriate to introduce the new Jewel.

Fortunately, not all songs are that stale. “Run 2 U” is full of variance, yet still not something she would do in the past. However, songs like “2 Find U” and “Fragile Heart” are just boring.

That Alaskan voice is not all forgotten, as it pops (no pun intended) up in almost every song. It’s like the old Jewel crying out for someone to save her. “Doin’ Fine” is a perfect example, because it has her soft voice with over-produced tracks, creating an awkward sounding, somewhat confusing, experience for the listeners.

Jewel succeeded at becoming a pop musician. She failed at making good music.

1*
Atlantic Records






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