The Fall (Amazon Exclusive)

Norah Jones | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: November 13, 2009
• Release Date: November 13, 2009
• Label: Blue Note Records
• Copyright: (C) 2009 Blue Note Records
• Total Length: 49:50
• Genres:
  • Pop
• ASIN: B002U9JEVA
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (179 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,675 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

130 of 139 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Norah's return to jazz rock genre? A+! November 17, 2009

By Hayden R. Deck

Format:Audio CD

Overall Grade: A
Hilights: Chasing Pirates, Young Blood, It's Gonna Be, Man of the Hour

Since her major pop debut in 2002, Norah Jones has been fluffing our pillows and stoking the fires with her cozy hearthside tales and heartwarmingly hopeless romanticisms. At a glance one might think that the art for her latest release, "The Fall", which features our lady in a top hat and a snowy white gown sitting next to a large cuddly canine, would suggest yet another album of dessert wine pop-jazz. This is not the case. Instead, Norah sidesteps the "sweet" almost completely and heads into a more rock-based sound, for which her voice is perfectly suited. The direction is fresh and the pace is easy to settle into (with a pace set by "Chasing Pirates"). Though the album lacks a real kick-in-the-pants sort of song, it certainly delivers some of her best work to date. Expect less piano, more guitar, and the sweetest ending Norah could offer. Wonderful!

67 of 71 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good work from Ms Jones November 17, 2009

By William Merrill TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

This new Norah CD is being received as some kind of "beefed up" version of her music, or a "return to rock." I understand where that perspective is coming from. The songs are more rock/ roots oriented, but for me, this is not any kind of major departure from her previous stuff. First, she's still a singer-songwriter, and the observational and confessional style of song she writes (or co-writes) is still very similar to before. Second, while the tunes often have a more upfront electric guitar (one difference), otherwise they are still largely on the mellow side. A new song such as "I Wouldn't Need You," still has Norah softly crooning the lyrics over a slow tempo, with a relatively gentle backing band. Not that this is a bad thing! I would use the word "charming" to describe the singer and her music, and that's undiminished on The Fall. Compared to someone else in the roots-rock field like Lucinda Williams, Norah Jones is not someone who's going to bowl you over with her passion. It's more of a seduction than an "in your face" approach. All of that said, I've really enjoyed listening to these new songs, and I think I'll be enjoying them much more in the days to come.

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 4-1/2 stars -- Higher and higher November 23, 2009

By Anthony Rupert

Format:Audio CD

Norah Jones is one of those artists that hardly ever disappoints. I own her first three albums and enjoy them, so when I heard she had a new album coming out, there was no question I'd go and get it. Add The Fall to her string of great releases.

Unlike other reviewers, I really don't hear that much of a difference in the sound on here when compared to Norah's previous works. Sure, the bass parts are a little more evident, but they aren't overpowering. And there are plenty of introspective tracks, like "Light as a Feather", "December" and especially the two-in-a-row of "You've Ruined Me" and "Back to Manhattan". And I challenge any man to step to her after hearing "Tell Your Mama".

The only reason I knocked off half a star is because the canine ode "Man of the Hour" didn't do anything for me. But the rest of the album is great. I hope The Fall is supposed to refer to the time of the year (rather than an actual descent, as naysayers might want you to believe), but whatever the case, it's damn good. Pick it up.

Anthony Rupert

54 of 62 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Difficult Listen November 28, 2009

By D. Ohnemus

Format:Audio CD

I have loved Norah since her first album. I like to get on Youtube and listen to those unreleased songs like "Love Me Tender" "I'll be your baby tonight" and others.
Her first album was amazing, the second one had some high points and her third did too just fewer high points. But we still had Norah's voice which I think is her big draw. Listening to her is like laying in a warm bath with a glass of wine. Or next to a glowing fireplace. I just find comfort in that voice.
With this album I can listen to some but not all of the songs. Her voice seems to be behind the music rather than in front or even equal to it. You hear the bass and drums and have to strain to hear her voice.
So as much as I hate to do this I can only call this album average. If I heard it and didn't know it was Norah Jones I would never buy it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another solid 4-star outing, and a 5-star vinyl LP November 23, 2009

By V. Sanford

Format:Vinyl|Amazon Verified Purchase

Man, this girl is hot. Sizzling AND smoking. This is only my second venture into Norah Jones' territory, and it certainly will not be the last. She has not only pulled off a seamless stylistic transition, but she is also showing her clout in the recording industry by releasing her latest studio effort in a double-gatefold, 180-gram LP, complete with a full-size poster of her and her five dogs, for the price of a regular LP. Selling 36 million albums last year alone has it's perks!

Music-wise, as with "Come Away With Me", the fidelity of the recording really shines through, and there is something for almost everybody stylistically. Coming from Texas with a jazz pedigree, her time in New York City has certainly widened her musical horizons. Overall, she is extending her reach a little more into rock n' roll, while staying true to the blend of bluesy jazz and pop that has defined her meteoric ascent into stardom. Reportedly, this is the first album that she has composed on a guitar, and it shows in a good way.

Many will no doubt love the first track, "Chasing Pirates", as it really shows off her pop music side; it may be the one to really get some top 40 airplay. For me the first one that really jumped out was "Light As A Feather", which presents a lush aural landscape to show off her bluesy jazz side, which is the aspect of her music that most appeals to me. "You've Ruined Me", and "Tell Your Mama" get more into bluesy rock, and she does this very well. There are no mediocre songs on this album, and the wide range of musical styles she presents, while probably short-circuiting many potential 5-star reviews she may have garnered as a more stylistic purist, widen her appeal, and doesn't seem to be hurting album sales any....

Norah Jones has a voice for the ages, there is no doubt about that. There are many industry heavyweights "helping" her (or is it the other way around?) on this latest effort, which may have helped with this stylistic transition, but compared to "Come Away With Me", the album can sound a tad over-produced in some places. But the new rock n' roll edge really shines through elsewhere in the album without being overpowering, and I am looking forward to more explorations into those areas from her in the future.

The LP version of this album is an excellent value for any vinyl-lover, to be sure, even if you only like a couple of the songs. But in my experience with Ms. Jones, the songs I like the most now won't be the same favorites that I develop over time; maybe I will really warm up to "Chasing Pirates" after all. One of my favorite songs on this album is "Man of the Hour", which is an ode to her dog(s). Neil Young should be proud! Read more ›