Jones' jones for a new sound backfires

The one word to describe Norah Jones' new album: safe. This little four-letter word does carry quite a negative connotation, which is unfortunate because it's not that Jones' sophomore effort is bad. The melodies have the same simplicity as they did on her last record, and the vocals are everything you would expect from Jones, nothing less, nothing more. And while "simple" worked magnificently on Come Away With Me, Jones' debut, here it leaves a lot to be desired.\nJones strayed from her purely jazz sound to create a folk-country fusion: less Jonesian and more Alison Krauss or even Jewel, which would be a great thing if only we didn't know and love her strengths so much already. Jones explained in interviews that she was tired of singing the blues, literally, and wanted a sound that would reflect a different aspect of her personality. There are a few tracks that work wonders by offering a perfect combination of the old and the new. "Above Ground" has an acoustic guitar as the backbone to add folk flavor, while Jones' piano lines and the drumming give it a jazzy feel. "The Prettiest Thing" is a beautiful song with a purely piano-driven melody and chilling vocals. This track, along with a handful of others, won't leave you feeling like Feels Like Home is a total disappointment.