Customer Reviews

Sea of Tears [Vinyl]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of my favorite CDs of the year, just a notch behind Jenny Lewis' "Acid Tongue." For musical details, I concur with the review by Colin Spence. I also concur with his evaluation of 4 and 1/2 stars but gave the CD five stars to balance out the Amazon tab. Jewell's music is very unlikely to reach mass media saturation (which is good) but it has already (and rather quickly) become popular with radio stations featuring an Americana format (which is also good since it will allow her to make a living, keep her superb band together and record more music in the future). It's not only difficult but also rather foolish to try to compete with a definitive cover version by The Who in their prime (i.e. Live At Leeds. I was so taken by Jewell's take on "Shakin' All Over" that I heard by chance on internet radio, however, that I made a point of finding out the performer and then buying the CD without bothering to listen to any other tracks. Because the CD as a whole is so likeable from the very first listen, this is a great CD to give as a gift to friends who enjoy hearing "undiscovered" musicians.

Jewell's third album retains the 30s jazz phrasings of her vocals, but the folk and country sounds of 2007's Letters From Sinners & Saints give way to electric guitars that twang like slow-motion rockabilly. No fiddle or harmonica this time, and only a few vocal harmonies supplement the basic guitar, drums, and bass. Dark strums of sustain contrast interestingly with Jewell's reflective vocals, turning Johnny Kidd & the Pirate's "Shakin' All Over" into a contest between cool reserve and hot guitar licks. Imagine the calm and collected Julie London backed by the Blue Caps' galloping Cliff Gallup. The British Invasion also provides Them's "I'm Gonna Dress in Black," rousing Jewell to angry self-pity.

The three covers (which also include Loretta Lynn's "The Darkest Day") have been reworked to downbeat- and mid-tempos that dovetail seamlessly with the blue twang of the nine originals. The opening "Rain Rolls In" contrasts chiming 12-string and a languid vocal with a lyric whose resignation extends to the grave. A similar pairing is heard in the mid-tempo title track, a jaunty vocal mouthing words of romantic misery. The aftermath of rejection threads through many of these tunes, alternating between quests of forgiveness and solitary rejections of the outside world; even the blue-jazz pep-talk "Final Hour" is more an escape from lethargy than a trek towards self-empowerment.

The closing "Codeine Arms" bookends the opener's sense of doom with a consumptive plea that's closer to the ignominy of McCabe & Mrs. Miller's opium den than the desperation of Buffy St. Marie's "Cod'ine." Yesteryear jazz and blues vocalists, most obviously Billie Holiday, cast a spell over Jewell's vocals, but the rootsy support of her band tends more to Christy McWilson territory than Madeline Peyroux. The absence of direct folk and country influences gives this disc a distinct roots-rock sound that's more singularly focused than her previous releases. Jewell's a talented songwriter and compelling vocalist, but guitarist Jerry Miller may be the real hidden treasure here. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

i got sea of tears through signature records two weeks ago and it hasnt left my cd player or have i listened to anything else..theres more of a rock edge to these sounds thanks to millers guitar ...i know this year is early but it ranks number one so far...this is a no miss purchase.. shes all of lucinda, pieta and others..i highly recommend

Eilen Jewell is one of those few performers who is so unique they defy categorizing. The combination of her mesmerizing voice, slow dance rhythms, and alluring, surgical guitar work makes her music so compelling, you can't stop listening to it over and over. The music is fresh, but familiar. Also noteworthy are the song lyrics, which she writes. Unlike so much music today that is filled with tired cliches, Jewell's songs grab you. She is a gifted lyricist who can be both gut wrenching and evocative at the same time. Her lyrics could stand alone as modern poetry. I hope she keeps writing and singing for a long time and keeps the same crew. It's like they were born to work together, complementing each other perfectly.

Sea of Tears delivers - big time - on the promise of 2007's Letters from Sinners and Strangers. Expanding on the nostalgic torch and twang of the previous album's Too Hot To Sleep, this is, for me, the best record of 2009. (It's not quite June as I write, but it will be tough to beat.)

While the style and sound consistently recall the 50's and early 60's, this is no rote imitation. Eilen Jewell has absorbed her influences and transcended them. Vocally, she walks a fine line of understatement without ever losing a smoldering intensity. She makes it sound easy, with the seemingly casual approach of someone singing on the front porch, and it's this combination of nonchalance and slow burn that make her voice so compelling. (She retains some of the careworn Billy Holliday style that marked Sinners and Strangers, but the influence is less noticeable with this material.)

Jewell is a major artist, as both a singer and songwriter. She wrote three quarters of the material, and there isn't a weak moment. The three borrowed songs are each a perfect fit. There's vintage Loretta Lynn ("The Darkest Day") and there's obscure Van Morrison ("I'm Gonna Dress In Black", a folky Them track, not a Morrison original). Most impressively, there's Johnny Kidd and the Pirates' "Shakin' All Over", a classic piece early British rock'n'roll that, in most hands, would be corny. Jewell's version is slinky and sexy, and sounds like it was written for Sea of Tears.

Where Sinners and Strangers showcased Jewell's versatility, Sea of Tears is a more appealing record for its consistency. (The band, guitarist Jerry Miller especially, can take their share of the credit for this.)

Not since Car Wheels on a Gravel Road can I recall a singer-songwriter in this broad genre hitting the mark with every track. At 30 Eilen Jewell is a complete talent but one whose best, hopefully, is yet to come. It remains to be seen whether she can emulate the stunning originality of the mature Lucinda Williams, but all the ingredients are there.

Tell your friends about Eilen Jewell. They'll thank you.

This is my first album by Eilen Jewell. If you combined a less gravelly Lucinda Williams with the purr of Melody Gardot, you'd get something that resembles EJ's voice. She can be a pretty laid back singer too - often with a voice like honey laced with Valium. There's plenty of twang to the guitar playing on this album, but the 'twangyness' isn't over the top. Featured instruments include : 6 and 12 string electric guitar plus steel guitar (most tracks have short guitar solos); in addition to percussion, other instruments played are : acoustic guitar, acoustic and electric bass, and organ on two tracks. The playing throughout is outstanding.

EJ writes songs with melodies that gradually 'creep up' on you, and they have interesting lyrics which are not over-demanding for the listener. The songs are influenced by a variety of styles (rock, rock and roll, country, folk and blues), and I think most have a distinct 1950s/1960s feel to them, with some evoking a mood of 'weary melancholy'. 9 songs are written by EJ and 3 are covers of songs by Johnny Kidd, Them and Loretta Lynn.

Some comments about my favourite tracks :

RAIN ROLL IN - A mid-tempo song with a country/tex-mex flavour. The song's lyrics are a stark reminder of our own mortality; SHAKIN' ALL OVER - Great cover of a song which the British rock and roll act, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, took to the No.1 slot on the UK charts in 1960; FADING MEMORY - A song about a wasted relationship and the need to start again; sung to a classic slow doo wop rhythm - my favourite track; ONE OF THOSE DAYS - A fairly slow tempo song which paints a drab picture of life in smalltown America.

Other standout songs for me are a pair of bluesy numbers : I'M GONNA DRESS IN BLACK and FINAL HOUR. I find a couple of songs to be less memorable than the others, but I rarely skip them - that mellifluous voice and the band's vibrant playing keep my ears glued to the speakers.


'Sea of Tears' is an album of consistently good performances from Eilen Jewell and her musicians; it features attractive (if mostly sad) songs often delivered with a slight seductive edge to the vocals.

Jewell has a bluesy old timey feel with a great guitarist.The only thing better than the disc is to see her live.

one of my best cds. She has so much talent and this cd was her best. Its to bad she has not recived more awards especialy on this cd.

Another great album by Eilen Jewell. See her live if you can. Last time I saw them, they did "I'm gonna dress in black" for an encore, and they tore that place up!! That's my favorite, but there's not a bad song on the disc . . .

By chance I heard Eilen Jewel's version of "Shakin all over" on the radio and was suitably impressed to do a little research into her other work - I actually bought 2 CD's "Letters from sinners" was the other and am of the opinion that Sea of Tears is the stronger piece of work. Great feel to her music, blues, country - just great music - any who buy won't be disappointed.