It's Like This

Rickie Lee Jones

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 12, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Artemis Records
• ASIN: B00004X0E8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,187 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
With It's Like This, quirky post-bohemian Rickie Lee Jones turns in her first release since 1997's trip-hop-influenced Ghostyhead. As she did on her 1991 album of covers, Pop Pop, Jones offers an unusual mix of songs from all sorts of sources. When has Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" appeared on the same album as Steely Dan's "Show Biz Kids"? Her unconventional choice of material is complemented by her equally fresh selection of musicians: Joe Jackson, Ben Folds, and Taj Mahal are all present, adding their styles to Jones's jazzy remakes. Rather than merely being a parade of talent and clever song choices, though, the result is a lovely, unassuming, and soothing album by a singer of distinction. Outstanding tracks include "Smile," the Beatles' somber "For No One," and Traffic's subversive "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys." --Heidi Sherman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A warm intimate album of classic rock, pop & standards, September 18, 2000

By A Customer

Since Rickie Lee Jones is not capable of making a less-than-great album, it's hard to be critical of any of her work in the context of her whole catalog. Each release is different from the last one and "It's Like This" is no exception. After the daring and brilliant masterpiece "Ghostyhead", Rickie Lee returns to a collection of some of her favorite songs. If you were lucky enough to catch some of her intimate shows during the past few years then this album will sound familiar on first listen. "It's Like This" is a little more spontaneous sounding than it's "sister" recording, 1991's near perfect "Pop Pop". But it's also a little less gorgeous and maybe a little less awe-inspiring this time around. Rickie's covers still shine and make you appreciate her unique singing style and instrumental arrangements. Stand outs include a pair of Gershwin songs: I Can't Get Started & Someone to Watch Over Me, a fantastic version of the old standard On the Street Where You Live, Hoagy Carmichaels Up a Lazy River and Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man. As always, masterful musicians accompany Rickie Lee that make you realize why among musicians she is considered a national treasure. Joe Jackson, Taj Mahal, Dan Hicks and Ben Folds lend their talents.

60 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Like... Hers, September 12, 2000

By	R. Cross "bughunter" (Pasadena, CA United States) - See all my reviews

In case you haven't figured it out yet, It's Like This is a collection of covers from rock, folk and jazz. Rickie Lee Jones, performing vocals and guitar, effortlessly makes them seem like they were written for her. She manages this feat even with songs like Steely Dan's "Show Biz Kids," and Traffic's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys," which are signature tracks for their original artists. Of course, the styles and sensibilities of Paul McCartney's songwriting in "For No One" can't be disguised, nonetheless Rickie's performance is haunting and beautiful, vying with "On The Street Where You Live" for best vocal performance on the album.

If you're looking for slick pop hits, go buy the new Emmylou Harris CD instead. It's Like This does have potential airplay tracks like "Show Biz Kids," "Low Spark of High Heel Boys," and especially "Trouble Man," but most of the other tracks are minimalist exercises in folk and jazz vocals, in which Rickie Lee Jones demonstrates her casual mastery of technique and sultry style that continues to seduce devoted fans. Of course, the fact that she gets help from fellow artists like Joe Jackson, Taj Mahal, Dan Hicks and Ben Folds only makes the album that much better.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's, like...gorgeous, October 29, 2000

By	John Jones "Musician" (Chicago IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A renowned singer/songwriter doing an album of cover tunes always makes for an interesting experience: as a writer, the artist at hand is likely to select a song whose melody or lyric truly moved them, rather than just zero in on commercial songs for a second-hand hit. Rickie Lee Jones' "It's Like This" is a perfect example; drawing from obscure pop and lesser-heard jazz standards (only "Someone to Watch Over Me" is an easy choice), the singer comes up with one of the most original and compelling album of covers you're likely to find.

Steely Dan's "Show Biz Kids" gets things off to a traditional Rickie Lee start: a jazzy piece of bohemian pop that comes through the speakers like a breath of fresh air. The jazz overtones in Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man" are brought to the forefront for a stellar reading, and leave it to Rickie to cover one of the most-covered bands ever (The Beatles), but to select one of the lesser-heard songs, the elegant and heartbreaking "For No One." Of the jazz standards, "Smile" benefits from the stark beauty of a duet between Rickie and acoustic guitar, and "I Can't Get Started" is so full of gorgeous longing you almost want to get your heart broken just to play the track at 2 a.m. There's upbeat joy to be found as well, though, on "The Street Where You Live" and a particularly strong "Up a Lazy River."

Boasting strong piano and guitar turns from Rickie and guest appearances by Joe Jackson, Ben Folds, and Taj Mahal, "It's Like This" proves once and for all that the gift of interpretation is just as important as the gift of composition. When remakes are this strong and original, is it truly fair to call them "covers"?