Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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51 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How Do You Prefer Your Jewel?, July 13, 2003
Enough with the negative reviews on this cd. It's too different for the hardcore fans, etc., etc. It's too much like Christina Aguilera or Britany Spears, which is inaccurrate. You know, there was a time when a female artist could jump genres of music and receive accolades instead of dismissals. Olivia Newton-John, Tina Turner, Cher, Madonna, Annie Lennox, Sinead O'Connor--all were able to shift gears musically, and to me that's a sign of talent, not selling out. Sure, Jewel is finely airbrushed on the cover, the titles are written like Prince tunes (U & Me= Love, Run 2 U, Yes U Can), and the songs are polished to fine pop bliss. I, for one, find this cd to be one of Jewel's finest. She forgoes all the pseudo-serious folk preaching and gets down to business with a cd filled with upbeat tracks instead of her serious ballads. However, she is still writing about serious topics such as social issues in "Stand" and "America" along with other familiar themes of love such as "Run 2 U", "Fragile Heart" and "2 Become 1". She also deals with letting go and trying new things such as the first single "Intuition", which probably flew over most Jewel fans' heads. She even deals with lust on "Sweet Temptation", "U & Me= Love" and "Yes U Can". In fact, there are a number of hits on this disc: "Stand", "Run 2 U", "Intuition", "Leave The Lights On", "2 Find U", "Fragile Heart", "Sweet Temptation", "Yes U Can", "America" & "Becoming". The only true miss is the overlong "Haunted", which seemed out of place. This new direction is great--a breath of fresh air for Jewel. She sounds like she's having fun and the music represents that spirit. Too many reviewers are taking this cd too seriously. This could be Jewel's "Thriller" or "Hysteria" or "No Jacket Required". If you're looking for intelligent pop (which Aguilera and Spears are not), then pick this up (also if you like the 80's).
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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
pop satire, December 2, 2003
Jewel goes over the top in this comedic but conscientious musical satire of superficial culture. 0304 is funny because Jewel mocks the "divas" and the "gangstas" in their own teen demographic targeted language... bubblegum and rap music. It is interesting how 0304 seperates the people who "hear" music from the people who are actually listening. What's the difference? Some people listen to the lyrics and get it and the rest don't get it because they are only looking at the surface, but either way you look at it, the album works. I am glad I fall into the "get it" category.Talent is just a matter of technical mastery but Jewel has more than that going for her. I suspect Jewel has doctorate degrees in philosophy and literature or something. The woman is clever.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Album To Be Remembered, January 5, 2007
Not only does the title of the album 0304 show that this record was meant to be something to remember, but the uniqueness of it shows it. When people think of Jewel they think of how she used to be from her 1st album, her real fans never seemed to grasp the real uniquness of Jewel which was that she could do whatever she wants whenever she wants. If she wants to do folk she can do folk, if she wants to do rock she can do rock, if she wants to do jazz she can do jazz, in this case she chose to modern pop and I couldn't be more happier. Songs like Intuition are more than just songs with some good dance sounds, underneath the melody there are some of the most well written lyrics with messages that will blow your mind. For example, the song Yes U Can. When people hear it they think, "It's just a song with a hip beat," when actually her message has to do with the way people live. We go around and have this wild atmosphere where anything and everything can happen. She's saying that guys and girls can do whatever they want, but actually she is pointing out the easiness and non cunning way it takes for someone to get what they want and in this case the person is getting love or one time pleasures. Like this song, the songs off this album is like "a needle in a haystack," it's something you have to search for if you really want to know what she's talking about. It's not that Jewel sold out, it's that people don't want to look for a message anymore. They want it given to them like a toy at Christmas. You don't even have to search for it, but in this case you have to. I find this album a total treasure and will take advantage of the messages that she gives to us. Will you?
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by Jewel 
