Chasing Pirates

Song: Chasing Pirates

Artist: Norah Jones

Album: The Fall

Okay, so I am not much of a fan. When Norah Jones broke and instantly became HUGE I didn't get it. I thought she was crazy boring, sleepy, and agreed with my friend Brian when he called her "Snora Jones." But the girl captured something, and had hit after hit album. I just assumed I was too young for her Starbucks-ready pillow time music... or was it straight-up music snobbery? Regardless, over the years I did find myself digging (and surprised) from some interesting collaborations with artists I dug. I played the shit out of her duet with Dave Grohl on the Foo Fighters' track "Virginia Moon," and also really thought her duet with Q-Tip, "Life is Better," on his excellent solo album "The Renaissance" was pretty cool. It was through these that I realized how much I liked her smoky, rather sexy voice.

So while I can't really speak to her other three albums with any intelligence (I have heard "Come Away With Me" in its entirety, was bored, but possibly delusional) I have been listening to her latest, "The Fall" due on November 17th, and think it's AMAZING. A shift in style from her more jazz-leaning tracks, "The Fall" sees Jones working with all new musicians and producers, who have worked with R.E.M., Modest Mouse, Tom Waits, and Kings of Leon to name a few. The result isn't a complete shift in mood (she's still making pretty, quiet music) but it's somehow more alive, complex, and wildly interesting. Lead single "Chasing Pirates" opens the record and is a good indication of what's to follow. It's quite beautiful, as not to alienate the fan base that loves her, but musically it's more intricate and layered. I'm just really really taken with it.

If you like Norah, I think you'll enjoy this new adventure, and if you're not a fan I would recommend having a listen. I do hear a Tom Waits/Modest Mouse freak-show circus vibe a bit... but it doesn't go whole-hog in that direction. Hmmm... hard to really describe, just check it out. Good good stuff.

Enjoy.

Chasing Pirates