The Bottom Line If you think you like Jewel (or may), then Pieces of You is the best place to start. It's good, not great album.
Full Review
Born in Utah and raised in Homer, Alaska Juel Kilcher led an unusual life. Performing alongside her folkie parents, young Juel entertained at Eskimo villages and tourist traps from the age of six. She lived in Alaska for the majority of her young life until she moved to Michigan to attend the prestigious Interlochen Fine Arts Academy in Michigan just outside of Traverse City. She spent her junior and senior years there as a voice major.
Intent on pursuing her dreams of becoming a solo singer-songwriter, Juel eventually picked up and moved to the California coast where she toured with her mother. She lived in her VW van until she was eventually “discovered” while performing at Innerchange Coffee House. Things moved quickly from there—Juel became the more palatable “Jewel” and recorded her debut Pieces of You. That album was released in 1995 and the rest really is history.
It is in part her unconventional, bohemian life that helped to buoy her career. The stories and situations were enchanting and as far as I can tell not an exaggeration. Plus, the fact that young Kilcher had attended Interlochen (a place I’ve visited) situated not far from my hometown drew me even nearer to her appealing folk-pop songs. Irregardless of her modest start, Jewel has to date managed to release four albums of original material, two albums of recited original poetry, and even a collection of traditional holiday carols. However it remains to be seen whether the singer-songwriter will be able to match simplistic appeal of Pieces of You.
Pieces of You is by no means a perfect album. It is good, it is sweet and it is catchy—all the makings of a hit pop album melded nicely enough with acoustic folk. It is on this album that listeners get the realest picture of who Jewel is. She is tender and sweet and not particularly self-conscious. However there are some major issues with Pieces of You. Much of it was recorded live and the songs you recognize as hit singles were actually re-recorded for mainstream release. The versions on this album were not the ones in videos and on radio. Who Will Save You Soul, You Were Meant for Me and Foolish Games are all obviously entertaining songs in pretty much any form but as found on the album they are something of a let down. In that way, Pieces of You was not marketed properly. I was one of thousands if not millions that bought Jewel’s debut expecting something else.
Despite the odd marketing and somewhat lacking versions of popular songs, Pieces of You is still a decent album just not intensely appealing on a classic. Jewel’s schoolgirl innocence was a pleasant relief from the pseudo-angst of post-grunge in 1995. Today it doesn’t seem quite as genuine, but still translates nicely. There is zero question that Who Will Save Your Soul is the best song. It is positioned perfectly, but is something of a letdown over the much richer single recording. This is the song that made Jewel famous…for good reason.
You Were Meant for Me and Foolish Games were as followup singles both more popular. Better? I don’t think so, but both songs have their moments. The former is a modest, touching track that oozes a pure kind of hopeful sensuality that characterizes so much of Jewel’s early music. Foolish Games is one of the darker, more bittersweet songs of the singer-songwriter’s career. Though with that said the version here is rather lacking as far as production and arrangement go. These are tender tracks that require attention to detail and seem to have been recorded in haste. Therefore, I still believe that Who Will Save Your Soul is by far the best song of Jewel’s debut album.
There are of course more songs to Pieces of You; eleven more to be precise. Some are forgettable while others are good; however none are what I would consider to be “great.” In fact, I’m hard pressed to call any of Jewel’s music truly “great.” This is one woman who has yet to completely realize her talent. It is in her, but whether or not we as listeners will ever really hear it is questionable.
The songs which prove most rewarding are scattered throughout. Title track Pieces of You is a fine enough effort, though it doesn’t connect as much as it did nearly a decade ago. It seems as though Jewel is in a way overstating her point. On one hand her singing is modest but on the other hand her words and melody seem over-wrought and almost disingenuous. This trouble surfaces time and time again on subsequent tracks like Little Sister, Painters, Adrian, and Don’t.
The songs that I connect most with are the lovely, gentle, decidedly folk Morning Song, the jangly and coy and slightly off-tune I’m Sensitive, and the sweeping Angel Standing By. In fact, it is that last song that shows the most potential for Jewel. If you were to listen to Pieces of You from start to end you may think she is a one trick pony—awkward young woman/poet with awkward young voice and acoustic guitar. Angel Standing By sounds like more of a classical movement than a 1990’s pop piece and definitely deviates from the rest of the album and thus stands out from the crowd of rather interchangeable folk-pop songs here.
Pieces of You is both a worth album and disappointment. On one hand, I like it. Jewel has a fascinating air about her and an interesting voice. However on the other hand, I guess I have always wished Pieces of You was better. I wish it had more meat, better production, and more variety. Despite all of the problems, the album does still glow with a certain amount of genius not often found in young singer-songwriters. I like it, not love it. Strangely enough Pieces of You is my favorite Jewel album. Spirit (1998) and This Way (2001) are also fine enough albums but seem even more lacking as far as honesty goes (by the way 2003’s 0304 is the worst of the lot by a long shot). For my money, Pieces of You is still the best bet.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Track Lisitng:
01. Who Will Save Your Soul
02. Pieces of You
03. Little Sister
04. Foolish Games
05. Near You Always
06. Painters
07. Morning Song
08. Adrian
09. I’m Sensitive
10. You Were Meant for Me
11. Don’t
12. Daddy
13. Angel Standing By
14. Amen
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