Come Away with Me

Standout tracks include the reworking of country legend Hank Williams' 'Cold Cold Heart', with Norah Jones' simple vocal delivery and sparse piano backed by a simple bass line and drums. My favourite tracks however is the opener 'I Don't Know Why' and the dazzling 'Come Away with Me' - with vocals of such sensuousness that would melt anybodies heart.

With 'Come Away with Me' Norah Jones turned the music world on its head. For here was album that sold almost twenty million copies worldwide and won countless awards, with little or no marketing or record company backing. It proved quite simply that good music shines through regardless, and helped in the process to provide the right conditions for fellow young easy listening/jazz artists such as Katie Melua, Jamie Callum, Diana Krall and Michael Buble to breakthrough into the mainstream radio and charts.

'Come Away with Me' is simply one of the most beautiful and accomplished albums of recent times, and deserves to be the stellar success that has been.

Looking at some of the other reviews of this album, I agree with the comment that it is hard to categorise Norah's music. To me, it sounds nothing at all like pop music. Instead, there seems to be a jazz influence along with blues. Usually this is not what I would go for at all, perhaps it is her amazing voice which gives her the edge. The harmonies are beautiful; this is an album which can easily be put on for light background music. There is not one song which I do not like and it is very hard to choose a favourite. "Come Away With Me," "I've Got to See You Again," "Nightingale" and "The Long Day is Over" all make it onto my list of favourites.

This really is one of the best albums I've bought for a long time. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Come Away With Me opens with the soothing single "Don't Know Why." This brilliant jazz piece has a great beat and wonderful lyrics from Norah that give off a feeling of longing, yet a certain feeling of resolution without taking any action. "Seven Years" is a song filled with joy and innocence. "Spinning, laughing, dancing to her favorite song. A little girl with nothing wrong is all alone," croons Jones on this perfect ballad. Perfect to chill to. "Cold Cold Heart" is a cover of the Hank Williams song and has a great bassline which almost has a cowboy-type texture to it. The song is about someone's cold heart, but Norah's silky vocals melt it down to its simplest form. She asks why she can't melt our cold, cold hearts, without knowing she has done exactly that. "Feelin' The Same Way" is one of my favourite songs from this album. This song has a great beat to it, which is rather up-tempo (something you won't come across too often on this record) and is rather catchy. The song seems to spin around in circles, perfectly matching the title of the song.

"Come Away With Me," the album's amazing title track, is another album highlight. I have gently fallen asleep to this song on many occasions, because it is just so relaxing and soothing. The video to this song features Norah in a car in the middle of the sunny desert, but the beat sounds just like slowly falling snow. The piano solo by Norah is also excellent. "Shoot The Moon" and "Turn Me On" are two songs which I don't really enjoy much, but seem to be mentioned by other reviewers quite a lot. "Lonestar" has a great sweeping beat, with Norah's vocals on top form. It has a country music feel to it, with its two-note vocal piece as she wishes for a sign from the night sky. "I've Got To See You Again" was my instant favourite song from this album. This is now not so, but I still enjoy this song a lot. Norah's vocals are at their most soulful ...on this great song about confused love. It's the longest song on the album, so we really get a chance to enjoy it, and the addition of the violin makes for a welcome change.

"Painter Song" is just class. This amazing song is perhaps my favourite on the album with its excellent beat and vocals. All this is just brilliant, but the addition of the accordion (cheesy, but oh so classy!) is just stunning. "If I were a painter, and could paint a memory, I'd climb inside the swirling skies to be with you," wails Ms. Jones on this perfect song to doze off to. "One Flight Down" is another great song with its noticeable piano intro, followed by some great lyrics. Full of secret meanings and memories, the song showcases Norah's rather clear and song vocals. "Nightingale" has perfect lyrics and a deep sound that provokes wild memories in the mind, in an almost lullaby style. "The Long Day Is Over" is yet another good song and probably the slowest on the album - another one that is perfect to fall asleep to. "The Nearness Of You" will be the song that wakes you up with its outstanding vocals that sound incredibly fresh but old and classic at the same time.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

This album has received a lot of criticism - most of which I cannot understand why. Norah does write some of her own material, and she has a wonderful voice. Anyone who says her vocals are cringeworthy needs their ears checked. She is a truly talented and exceptional young lady who I can see going a long way with follow up albums. She isn't riding on the back of her father's (Ravi Shankar) success, as his classical Indian style is completely different. Her Texas upbringing has brought out the best in her individual style of Western Jazz. This isn't a perfect debut album (I've heard better), as it could have done with a few more toe-tappers and variety in the tempos, but give her time. Norah will prove herself as her vocals mature. Trust me.

I have been a devoted fan of Eva Cassidy for over 3 years now and she is undoubtedly my No. 1 female artist of popular music by miles and miles. This doesn't stop me from appreciating another fine artist, i.e. Norah Jones. Norah has a first-rate voice and "Come Away With Me" is a damned fine debut album. I am sure that anyone who has bought the "New York City" album will be as enamoured with it as I am, albeit a different style from CAWM. It's more Bluesy/R & B.

Eva Cassidy is in a class of her own, significantly better by a long way than any other female vocalist around today. However, I personally think that Norah Jones has entirely her own style which, I do not believe for one minute, is in any way a copy of Eva Cassidy's.

The Customer Review by "devolution uk" is just a spiteful set of words condemning one artist against another. It is totally predjudiced and a less than honest Review of Norah's fine album "Come Away With Me".