Reviewing the new self help type song by Jewel wasn’t something I had envisioned doing when the song was first announced. I’ll admit to being a bit of a die-hard fan of the 1st Jewel album from, gulp, 30 years ago. I even collected various bootlegs that were released in the wake of the success generated from Pieces of You. From there I’ve been a passive Jewel fan – loving some songs she puts out, not quite connecting with other songs. There’s been some gems though and I enjoy unabashedly saying I love Jewel when in the company of music snobs (they’re still out there!).
The album cover is based on a painting created by Jewel. Jewel looks straight ahead while an Alaskan scene is shown within the self-portrait. The song is over 10 minutes – the longest of her career – and serves as the soundtrack to an exhibit she’s curated at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. I listened with trepidation – the song starts with spoken word meditation techniques. She narrates the struggles of life as a cinematic score plays in sync with her words. It’s calming and somehow works really well. At the 5-minute mark the song segues into what sounds like a typical Jewel song, if only for a bit. It’s uplifting, catchy, and unusual. From there it moves towards a nursery rhyme chant (still catchy!) before ending where it all began – positive thoughts that are indebted to meditation techniques. There are quite a few lyrics that I love in this song, but here’s a verse that really spoke to me:
“Blessed are the broken —
Let the light in.
Blessed are the open —
Let love begin.
Forgiveness is the needle
That knows just how to mend.
This is a hymn for the broken.”
Verdict: A New Path
For Fans of: Neil Young, The Flaming Lips, Fleetwood Mac, Micah P. Hinson, Grandaddy, Patti Smith