Album Review: Visions by Norah Jones
With the help of Leon Michels, Norah Jones returns with a solid, pop-produced retro album.
On Visions, Norah Jones is astonished with an airy mixture of various genres that seamlessly blend into a cohesive and easily digestible whole. The album is a tumble, featuring loose, easy-listening-slower midtempo tracks like “That’s Life,” rockingly designed moments with understated garage surf bass in “Staring At the Wall,” Sunny Westcoast Soul in “All This Time”, and the bedroom song “I’m Awake.” The 44-year-old artist also indulges in sixties beat reminiscences, such as in “Paradise,” which boasts a touch of chanson, psychedelia, and standing blues, and in the case of “Queen of the Sea,” even with a hint of country.
“Swept Up In the Night” exudes a church-like atmosphere in its jazzed robe. The record has relatively little to do with vocal jazz in the strictest sense, with the most likely exception being the devotedly performed “Alone With My Thoughts” on the electric piano, which is both vocally and in its design, the quietest yet most exciting contribution to this mildly exciting but simultaneously beautiful album. The previous record, “Pick Me Up Off the Floor,” and the live album that followed it seems miles away on the map of musical genres. Here, the artist has liberated herself from the burden of any expectations and ventured into uncharted territory.
“On My Way” is a flirtatious soft pop tune that could theoretically be produced by Phil Spector in its brocade, lush passages. Sampled bird chirping and quiet sections detach from its Wall of Sound texture. In the lyrics, the protagonist gently charms her lover with statements such as “In the dark you don’t need to be afraid/At night you can learn to laugh and play,” with Norah doubling one word per line:
“In the dark-dark (…)
In the night-night (…)
In the light-light (…)
We make it right-right.”
It may be undemanding, but it is undeniably sweet.
The title track, “Visions,” infuses the flow of the record with Norah’s signature sunken, intimate calm as a reduced ballad, primarily showcasing vocals, trumpets, and plucked guitars. A particular highlight for rhythmic reasons is the piano pedal soul “Just Wanna Dance,” which features a pleasantly grooved bassline, lush Americana pop instrumentation, and the comforting coming-home feeling of on-the-road ballads from the 70s. In sum, the album is steeped in retro influences.
The Manhattan-born artist plays bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, and piano on most pieces, in addition to singing, writing, composing, and arranging the songs. Leon Michels, who also participates in the production, serves as the drummer, co-guitarist, and baritone saxophonist. Leon has garnered fame through his work with the Black Keys, The Arcs, the Menahan Street Band, Aloe Blacc, Lady, Lee Fields, his Expressions, Hanni El Khatib, Sharon Jones, and Charles Bradley. He has also previously collaborated with Norah. Together, the two succeed in creating a delightful record that is pleasing and suitable for mainstream audiences while remaining above any criticism.
Great (★★★★☆)
Favorite Track(s): “Visions,” “On My Way,” “Alone With My Thoughts”