PopSyndicate.com

Despite the words penned on previous albums, Norah Jones’ velvety vocals have been more moon than sun, more merlot than Riesling, than that of other acts. Just in time for the supposed holiday of lovers, Jones produces a heart-stabbing dagger for the love lost with Not Too Late, an album full of pain, loss and the realization that relationships never live up to the ideal.

Not Too Late is not a happy album; it is a journey through the dark of night. The sun sets with the opening track “Wish I Could,” which mourns losing a lover to war. Jones’ meaning isn’t crystal, but further in, you could take the second verse one of two ways: as a woman who used to love the soldier that moved on to woman’s friend or as a woman who went behind her friend’s back to have a relationship with the soldier.

The moon rises with the Dixieland-blues-flavored “Sinkin’ Soon,” and “The Sun Doesn’t Like You” which take a cynic bent towards failing romance, while the next two tracks talk about failing friendships and put-upon personalities. The darkest hour strikes with the politically charged “My Dear Country,” which describes the day after the 2004 elections as nigh-apocalyptic. Finally, as the next sunrise approaches, so does hope with the lighter “Little Room” and “Rosie’s Lullaby.” Though she remains a realist with lyrics like, “My lungs are out of air / Yours are holding smoke,” Jones’ journey ends with the title track that speaks of lessons learned and she realizes it’s never too late to love.

The album is not just an emotional departure from Norah’s previous projects, but professionally as well, as this is the first album she scripted by herself. The sound is thick and varied per usual, and overall, the tracks are fine; there’s nothing inherently wrong with them. But, the album cruises at the same speed the entire time with Jones’ V10 voice under the hood, when you’re just waiting for it to open up and rip up the road.

“Not Too Late” is garnering critical praise, but scorn from many fans for being dark and depressing, not unlike the sixth season of a certain Joss Whedon-created television series. Jones’ most mature album to date is well-crafted, thoughtful, weighty, and painful, but also bleeding with more honesty than has been seen from a major act in many years.

Genre: Country/Pop/Blues
Best Songs: “Little Room,” “My Dear Country”

4