[.ca] This Way

From Amazon.co.uk:
It's easy to see on This Way that Jewel wants to lighten up. With two previous multimillion-selling albums (and a couple of much-scorned but popular books) filled with earnest, clueless revelations behind her, the singer-songwriter comes a little closer to ground with This Way. "Give it hell 'til the end," a former compatriot urges her on "Till We Run Out of Road", her version of Jackson Browne's "The Load Out". Could that be a hard-bitten road warrior deep inside the woman who makes a point of pronouncing the "O"'s in the opening line ("Mirror, mirror") of this album's "Serve the Ego"? Maybe. But despite her icky streak's spread to cutesy jokes ("Jesus Loves You"), Jewel hasn't quite abandoned her old judgmental ways (in "I Won't Walk Away", she spies a couple "resisting being one") and ambitions to, you know, really say something, as in the "Desolation Row"-lite "The New Wild West". Still, with some nice, if bland, arrangements set around her, This Way is the Jewel album most likely to appeal to Jewel non-fans. --Rickey Wright

Chronique amazon.fr:
Dans le genre, This Way est une réussite. La voie qu'indique Jewel n'est pourtant nouvelle en rien ; bien au contraire, elle est un sommet de classicisme classieux comme en attendent les amateurs d'americana FM. La recette est parfaite et pas un boulon ne manque, de l'engagement des paroles qui renvoie à une certaine tradition du folk ("The New Wild West") au chouia de spiritualité bon chic bon genre ("Jesus Loves You") sans compter que la diva caracole, très à l'aise, dans tous les registres - qu'elle minaude d'une voix sensuelle ou qu'elle s'excite avec une pêche qui évoque le blues de certaines de ses consoeurs. À dire vrai, les portes du succès sont garanties à Jewel qui rappelle en bien des points Heather Nova. À 27 ans, elle signe un disque mature produit par le guitariste qui monte en 2002 : Dann Huff. Du mainstream de qualité qui devrait ravir fans de Tracy Chapman et Rickie Lee Jones. --Hervé Comte

This way is the right way:
Jewel never ceases to amaze me. I've been a fan since I got my "Peices of you" when I was in Public school. Now done college I feel the same way when listening to her cd's. They're so moving. Growing with your fans and changing but staying the same is hard for artists. Predicting what they think their fans will love, but also will bring in new fans. "This Way" is an excellent album. I love all different kinds of music and am always switching it up. But I know I can always count on Jewel to be my favourite and I would never get sick of her voice. I have all of her CD's, and I never usually do this kind of thing, but I felt I had to! Because I feel it was underappreciated. This is real music, period. This is her best CD with all of her talent from each CD mixed into one. I think her next album should be more like this one. Her more upbeat poppy album 0403 is great as well! You have to listen to the whole thing though, her songs on much music do not do the CD justice. It's different and more mainstream, but it is her, it's Jewel and her true fans will love it. Jewel doesn't get enough praise for her work and talent. I wish I would see more about her on Much Music! I'm her biggest fan! If you talk to Jewel tell her Canada loves her!!!

THIS WAY, THE RIGHT WAY:
This Way one of Jewels albums is a must-have. You would rarely find such alent now with all those big budget CDs with op sounds that all sound the same. Jewel's THIS WAY is great and is like a rock album mixed with rock. Excellent songs are THIS WAY, STANDING STILL(BEST ON THE ALBUM) and SERVE THE EGO which has many sounds those of country, percussion and rock. The lyrics in THIS WAY (mostly in SERVE THE EGO) actually make a statment and although some songs are about love she puts them in a way that you wont know what hit you. Must have for Jewel, country, folk or rock fans.

Really good album:
This is my favorite Jewel album. The lyrics aren't too meandering (or at all) and the music is just nice and reflective. The ballads are what work best here. The title track is one of my favorites, even though in the liner notes she said she hated singing it. "I Wont Walk Away" is a nice jazzy kind of ballad. A lot of people don't like "Cleveland" because it's "too country", but I love it. I'd actually like to see her do a true country album. "Till We Run Out Of Road" and "Do You Want To Play" are other great ballads. A lot of people love "Serve The Ego", but I could take it or leave it. "Love Me, Just Leave Me Alone" is EXCELLENT. "Break Me" and "Standing Still" were great singles too. Overall a solid collection of music.

Boxful of Jewel:
The multi-talented Jewel delivers on her third studio album Standing Still. The title track is one of the best from the CD. Her clear-as-an-Alaskan-stream vocals, though not absolutely extraordinary, sound better than ever, and her writing talents have improved a lot as well. Jewel is an artist to watch.

Another great album:
I've always been a fan of Jewel. I have almost all her albums, and now my new one is "This Way". I got this CD for Christmas and...it's AMAZING. Every song on this CD is excellent, and Jewel's voice shines. ~~~~~~ Standing Still ~ 5 stars Jesus Loves You ~ 5 stars Everybody Needs Someone Sometime ~ 5 stars Break Me ~ 5 stars Do You Want to Play? ~ 5 stars Till We Run Out of Road ~ 5 stars Serve the Ego ~ 5 stars This Way ~ 5 stars Cleveland ~ 5 stars I Won't Walk Away ~ 5 stars Love Me, Just Leave Me Alone ~ 5 stars The New Wild West ~ 5 stars Grey Matter ~ 5 stars Sometimes It Be That Way ~ 5 stars ~~~~~~~~ I recommend this album to all Jewel fans. Trust me, you WON'T be dissapointed, "This Way" is amazing. :)

• Standing Still
• Jesus Loves You
• Everybody Needs Someone Sometime
• Break Me
• Do You Want To Play?
• Till We Run Out of Road
• Serve The Ego
• This Way
• Cleveland
• I Won't Walk Away
• Love Me, Just Leave Me Alone
• The New Wild West
• Grey Matter (Recorded Live)
• Sometimes It Be That Way (Recorded Live)