A friend whose opinion I value very much recently recommended that I look into this song-weaver "Rickie Lee Jones", who she thought would hit the spot in my hunger for new and exiting discoveries in music.

So I found myself in a music store today, browsing through the selection, and a self-titled album by Rickie Lee Jones caught my eye.

The CD-cover shows a woman, most obviously Rickie herself, with a sort of a raggedy-artsy look, smoking a small cigar. Hmm... definitely promising for a Tom Waits fan...

Now listening to the album, all I can say that my friend certainly deserves my continued trust when it comes to matters of music.

The thing that first strikes the virgin-listener of Rickie-Lee is her voice, slightly reminiscent of Sheryl Crow at points. Indeed, one can imagine that Sheryl may have had Ricky Lee playing in her mind when compiling some of the songs on her album "Tuesday Night Music Club". Still, I think Rickie's voice is more playful and the way the words just flow from her lips is quite intriguing. She seems to be one of those artists that not only have a good voice, but also dare to use it creatively.


I'll say a few words on a few songs that made an impression on me, and led me to give her the five stars:

Chuck E.'s In Love

The first song on the album. This upbeat song sets a nice atmosphere for the album. It's about the changes brought about by new love:
"He sure acquired a cool and inspired
sorta jazz when he walk,
Where's his jacket and his old blue jeans?
If this ain't healthy is it some kinda clean?
I think that Chuck E.'s in love..."


Easy Money

The fifth song - I've only listened to the album twice now, but already I see that this is my favourite song of the album. The song begins with a quiet base, and throughout the song the instruments play second fiddle to Rickie's intriguing, enticing, quirky voice, and brilliant lyrics - this one will get you smiling for sure. You might describe this as a slightly jazzy jam with a great clever atmosphere.


Danny's All-Star Joint

#7 on the album.

You know when you hear a really great song on the radio, and you listen really hard in the hope that the DJ might indulge you with the name of the performer after the song is over? And of course that won't happen, you're too lazy to call the radio station, and you end up being bothered by it for days, keeping an ear out for when it's played again - and seems that it never is.

This playful, clever, witty, jazzy song is one of those - how delightful to bump into it on this album! I'm never going to forget the name "Rickie Lee Jones", now that I've found her!

So there, you sadistic-unknown-DJ-a-few-years-back!


Coolsville

This cool, slow blues with a jazz influence comes right after "Danny's All-Star Joint". A Real atmosphere creator.


The overall impression of the album was very pleasant - the music was mostly acoustic, with influences from folk, jazz and blues. A variety of instruments from strings to a xylophone to horns made brief appearances on the album, but never stole the spotlight from Rickie, a singing talent completely unknown to me until today. I'm glad to have found her, and readily recommend the album to anyone.


Recommended: Yes