RICKIE LEE JONES
It's Like This (Artemis)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Several years ago Rickie Lee Jones put out a beautiful little record called Pop Pop. It was loved by some, reviled by others. It was a collection of oldies like "Hi Lili Hi Lo" and "I Won't Grow Up," and it had a sublime version of Jimi Hendrix's "Up From The Skies" that led to her equally sublime cover of Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" on her Traffic From Paradise album. While Rickie Lee Jones always has been and always will be a songwriter, first and foremost, she has a unique gift for making something brand new of an old song. It's Like This is an eclectic offering of tunes from sources as diverse as Gershwin, The Beatles, Lerner & Lowe, Steely Dan and Traffic. These words are insufficient to describe her treatment of "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys," but I felt transported and soothed, floated away by what has to be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I love the original, but I have to confess this surpasses it for me. She takes each tune through her world and it comes out a Rickie Lee Jones tune, even those with melodies that are superglued to the original artists, like "For No One." Can you imagine anyone but McCartney doing that song? Neither could I, but the amazing Ms. Jones did it, and she took it to a new place. Nobody else in the business today can do what Rickie Lee Jones can do, and yet the average person on the street, when asked who Rickie Lee Jones is, will still think a moment and say "oh, that Chuck E's In Love woman?" It just ain't right.

Track List:

Show Biz Kids * Trouble Man * For No One * Smile * Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys * On The Street Where You Live * I Can't Get Started * Up A Lazy River * Someone To Watch Over Me * Cycles * One Hand One Heart

© 2001 - DJ Johnson