ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Pieces of You - Jewel

 I never got to do a full scale review of Jewel's "Pieces of You" as when I chose it originally, I did not have time to write a 5 paragraph essay on every album I choose. This one is worthy of re-selection. It is by far one of my favorite bodies of work of all time. Jewel's lyrical style shines and the album truly shows how simplicity can add to a body of work and how the story is taken in.

On release, the album actually failed to chart at all. It was Bob Dylan who brought Jewel into the limelight, interviewing her and having her open for him. 2 years later, this old forgotten album received recognition and radio airplay. Critics compare it negatively to the scopes of female "folk-pop", and gave it less than stellar reception. It went on to sell 7.3 million copies in the United States alone as of 2010. It also got special treatment, receiving a 25th anniversary edition remaster with outtakes, demos, and live performances. For this piece, I am focusing on the original recording. 

"Who Will Save Your Soul" begins the album and seems a strong piece of work. The guitar work stands out and the lyrics profoundly speak of issues occurring in the world at that time. Jewel works her voice into a darker register and brings out the depth of the song. 

"Pieces of You" tackles bullying and often the resounding fears and insecurities which make people hurt other people the way they do. In fear of becoming like them, or maybe that person has little pieces of themselves. A beautiful, profound track that really was a good chosen title. It captures so many pieces of people as an album.

"Little Sister" is originally one of my personal favorites. The song appears to reference and discuss the addiction to drugs, and seeing many young people turning to them without a care. It also seems to express the hurt of watching people slip into the cycle of drug addiction and lose the person you loved. 

"Foolish Games" is a beautiful track that I figure more people know by her. It still on a rare occasion gets airplay. A very profound heartbreak ballad of hating a boy playing with your heart strings. Always the most relatable things. But the way she sings it adds so much more feeling to it. 

"Near You Always" displays a little more of Jewel's range and ability to branch into other things, and I always found it to be a very cute love song. It reminds you a bit of puppy love, wanting to always be together. 

"Painters" is a heart wrenching song of love and loss, as it describes the story of an elderly couple. The woman is left a widow, but has the paintings left. They painted a beautiful world for themselves. It is a reminder often life and love, it is what we make it. So paint it exquisitely. 

"Morning Song" is another cute love song, where they just want to spend the day together and let the rest of the world pass by. Call in sick, don't go anywhere. Just spend the day snuggling. A sweet gem in a somewhat dark themed album.

"Adrian" makes for a very gut-wrenching track again, this time about a boy who seems to have suffered a terrible accident and his mother cannot let him go. Things have not been the same as everyone sees the suffering. She cannot "turn the machines off". Years passed and she still waits for her son to live properly. His eyes open but still not there. Small and fragile, wondering if he should have lived at all. It is complicated when someone ends up requiring such care and becomes a shell of what they once were.

"I'm Sensitive" is a sweet song. She just wants to be respected, but also the diligence to say "I want to stay that way". Like a powerful statement to say being sensitive is not necessarily a flaw. Many people see it as a sign of weakness to be soft and sensitive. We are every day angels. I don't know why critics destroyed this track, besides they cannot handle hearing something that implies they destroy people at the roots.

"You Were Meant For Me" is another cute love song to break some of the dark themes. I feel she does this because it is often love and the seeking which keeps us going, and gets us through these dark or twisted times. It is so valuable to remember love in these cases.

I always found it interesting placement that "Don't" came right after this. Someone begging someone not to get too close, they do not want to fall in love again. Stay back. 

"Daddy" seems to reference emotional abuse at the least, as she gets so angry at the way a father can rip someone to shreds. Saying she will make him as vulnerable as he made her. "Psychoanalyze that". The deep bitterness in the delivery makes it seem more that just mere teenage rebellion. 

It seems a proper shift to go to "Angel Standing By", because it is likely the girl from "Daddy" would need someone to console her and make her feel whole again, and this person is promising to be there beside the other.

The album closes with "Amen", which appears to be referencing the darker tones of the album itself. Mentioning screaming dry up to the skies, asking where her hope should be. Anger with God is not something necessarily wrong, but certainly a piece of the human condition, wondering why this must all happen. 

Lyrics: 10/10 - The lyricism of this album always stood out to me. Profound stories, and the portrayal allows you to feel the pain.

Music: 10/10 - Is it perfectly finessed? No. But the messiness fits the style she is using and the messaging of the music.

Overall: 10/10 - This is an all time favorite of mine and think it needs some more love. It came courtesy of my grandfather's CD box back in the day.