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Biography
"Love bravely, live bravely, be courageous, there's really nothing to lose. There's no wrong you can't make right again, so be kinder to yourself, you know, have fun, take chances. There's no bounds." -Jewel
Jewel Kilcher, 23 May 1974, Payson, Utah, USA. Singer-songwriter Jewel was raised in Homer, Alaska, but left her home at the age of 16 to study opera in Michigan, Illinois. She then joined her mother in her Volkswagen van mobile home in San Diego, California. At that time Jewel first began to sing professionally at the Innerchange coffee shop, an establishment serving the local surfing community. These concerts quickly attracted a strong local following, and inevitably drew the attendance of several major label A&R staff. There were also early indications of her sense of humour - notably a popular on-stage imitation of the Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan. Warner Brothers Records won her signature, leading to the release of her February 1995 debut album, Pieces Of You. A low-key release, Jewel promoted it with a tour of west coast coffee houses and the release of the album's strongest track, "Who Will Save Your Soul", as a single. Her first major exposure followed in May with an appearance on the syndicated Late Night With Conan O'Brien television show. She subsequently made frequent appearances in the tabloid gossip columns through her on-off relationship with actor Sean Penn (formerly Madonna's husband). Penn, keen to launch himself as a director, later directed the video to Jewel's second single release, "You Were Meant For Me", which became one of the most successful singles in US chart history. As the album's sales profile began to increase, Jewel was offered the lead in a TNT benefit production of The Wizard Of Oz. However, a tour with former Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy was less well-received ("I wanted to kill myself after every show", she later told Rolling Stone magazine). She also performed one show in Detroit where the assembled audience were convinced they were there to see the similarly-named Death Row Records rapper, Jewell. Despite this, further television exposure on programmes such as The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Entertainment Tonight ensured that Pieces Of You eventually achieved multi-platinum status. She also signed a $2 million dollar publishing deal with Harper Collins. Her book of poetry, A Night Without Armor, sold over two million copies in America alone.
The singer's eagerly await follow-up Spirit was recorded with veteran producer and Madonna collaborator Patrick Leonard. The album debuted at US number 3 in December 1998, and included the Top 10 single "Hands". The following year the singer made her acting debut in Ang Lee's acclaimed civil war drama, Ride With The Devil. She also released the seasonal Joy. Jewel's third studio album proper, This Way, appeared in 2001, and demonstrated a lighter-hearted approach both musically and lyrically. If This Way was a surprise, then 0304, a dance pop album light years away from the sensitive singer-songwriter fare of her early material, came completely out of left-field.
Three years after the stylistic departure of her last album 0304, Jewel returns in winning style with her 6th album, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland. Weaving her introspective lyrics with fresh and exciting songwriting, Jewel produces her finest album since Pieces of You. You would think that with 25 million albums sold, a successful poetry collection, roles in several major films, and a great romance with rodeo star Ty Murray, Jewel would be happily looking to the future. Instead Jewel looks to the past, opening up her life and rise to fame with a critical and exploring eye.
Long Slow Ride is a track where Jewel's positively sensual vocals clash intriguingly with the dark lyrical themes of falling downwards and loss. This darkness slides right into the outstanding acoustic title track, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland. Here Jewel points directly at herself, noting that "I'm embarrassed to say, the rest is rock and roll cliche..I hit the bottom and reached the top." where "fame is filled with spoiled children." Harshly honest, she wraps her criticisms in comforting melodies and her gentle voice. Jewel faces the uncertainty of adult life on one of the best tracks, Stephenville, TX, as she sings of "trying to figure out who I am..now that the stardust has turned to sand..and the sand turned to stone...on the star making machine.", but she realizes that she's "got nothing to lose..i'm an entertainer." Jewel is learning that she only has to be herself to be appreciated and happy.
This themes reappear subtly throughout the remainder of the album. The incredibly catchy commercial pop of Again and Again, Only One Two, and Words Get In The Way reveal snippets of this lyrical theme in addition to highly addictive melodies. Jewel also takes some stylistic risks with tracks like Satellite, a slinky and funky critique of shallow California lifestyles, Good Day(Clean), which combines a fascinating spoken word vocal with a bouncy rhythm, and the gentle and calming acoustic Last Dance Rodeo. Closing tracks Where You Are and 1000 Miles Away cap off the album perfectly and bring to mind Jewel's earliest works.
Co-producer Rob Cavallo, who has produced hit albums with the Goo Goo Dolls and Green Day, ensures a cohesive sound, with the right amount of strings and electric guitar to balance the acoustic guitar that is Jewel's hallmark. The album offers some of the year's best pop-rock commercial tracks as well as intriguing and complex acoustic and folk-country songs. There is little filler on this album; almost each track could be a single. Goodbye Alice in Wonderland is an enjoyable, fun album that is a welcome return for the "modern day troubadour" that we love. Highly Recommended and on the short list for 2006's Top 5 albums.
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Goodbye Alice in Wonderland
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Jewel
Release date: 02 May, 2006
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