Letters From Sinners & Strangers

Eilen Jewell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 17, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Signature Sounds
• ASIN: B000R348AI
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,461 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #54 in Music > Indie Music > Country > Country Folk
  • #74 in Music > Rock > Roots Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's hard to tell where the traditional ends and the original begins in the music of Eilen Jewell, a sweet-voiced young singer who steeps her material in the hard times of old, reviving the stories and musical styles of the Depression. On her own "Rich Man's World," she casts herself as a "lonely rambler girl" while conjuring comparisons with Gillian Welch. Another original, "In the End," sounds uncannily like Lucinda Williams, while a revival of Eric Andersen's train-hopping "Dusty Boxcar Wall" and the double-entendre blues of the traditional "If You Catch Me Stealing" reinforce the sense of Jewell as a musical throwback to a time before she was born. Yet there are timeless pleasures here as well: a bittersweet reading of Charlie Rich's "Thanks a Lot," an understated, harmony-laden rendition of Bob Dylan's "Walking Down the Line," the sultry cantina twang of her original "Too Hot to Sleep." When the musical arrangements aren't generic Hot Club and the songs seem more like role-playing, Jewell sounds like a singer with enough promise to develop her own identity. --Don McLeese

Product Description

Once in a great while you put on a CD by an artist you've never heard of before and time stops. The voice is new, yet timeless. The lyrics are all original yet feel immediately familiar. And the melodies carry the easy groove. This is the story of Eilen (rhymes with feelin') Jewell and this is her debut record. Jewell's heart-aching hushed style and intimate grasp of roots music are revealed in the CD's provocative, melodic originals and timeless country and blues classics. For fans of Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch, this is a rousing and confident tour de force.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great new Artist., July 25, 2007

By 

Robert Westfall (Avon, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters From Sinners & Strangers (Audio CD)

This could be my favorite new CD this year.Eilen (rhymes with feelin') Jewell combines folk, country ,Bluegrass and Pop yet manages to have her on unique style. She in part Madeleine Peyroux, part Kelly Willis but all Eilen Jewell. The songs are top notch, not a bad cut. She takes an old Johnny Cash Sun cut, "Thanks a Lot" and puts such a fresh coat of paint on it that it took me a few listens to recognize it. There are a couple of other outstanding covers, Eric Andersen's "Dusty box car wall" and Dylan's "Walking down the line" In both cases she makes them her own. However it's the originals that really shine. "Rich Man's world", In the end", "too hot to sleep", as I said, not a bad tune in the 12. I especially like "High shelf Booze" which would not have been out of place on an early Emmylou Harris" album. A terific CD!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Newhouse News Review, July 23, 2007

By 

Caroline Gear "soxfan" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters From Sinners & Strangers (Audio CD)

Eilen Jewell's first name rhymes with "feelin'," and there's little doubt that she'll leave listeners hooked on that feeling from listening to her smooth heartache songs, most sung in a drawl that's occasionally reminiscent of Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch.

"Letters from Sinners and Strangers" is primarily comprised of originals, along with a few notable exceptions including a standout, harmony-filled version of Bob Dylan's "Walkin' Down the Line" and a tasty take of Eric Anderson's "Dusty Boxcar Wall."

Yet Jewell sounds most at ease working against some jazz-textured fiddle and guitar work in the red hot "Heartache Boulevard;" going retro-country on the upbeat "Rich Man's World;" singing wondrously in the Williams' flavored "In The End;" or getting into a blues mood on "Where They Never Say Your Name."

She's got a great band working with her throughout the album, especially guitarist Jerry Miller and violinist Daniel Kellar. This one is first-rate from start to finish from an artist whose star is on the rise.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old soul singing new tunes, October 23, 2007

By 

J. C. Lewis Atty "c lewis" (lafayette, LA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters From Sinners & Strangers (Audio CD)

Excellent and enjoyable music that hearkens back to an earlier era but is delivered freshly by Ms. Jewell and her band of musicians. A real delight!