CD Review: Norah Jones' Not Too Late

It takes a particular mood to fully delve into the sultry, smooth rhythms and vocals of a Norah Jones record. We’re usually used to something more fast-paced, booming and contemporary, so it might take some adjusting to sit still and mellow the senses. But once the necessary mood is reached, without any assistance from Xanax, the soothing sensation of her music is extraordinary.

Most of us got to know the tranquil style of Norah Jones quite well back in 2003 when “Don’t Know Why” dominated every facet of life. And while literally everybody and their mothers inappropriately sang the line, “I don’t know why I didn’t come,” in grocery stores across the country, the provocative single paved the way for the burgeoning new artist to earn six Grammy awards—notably for best new artist and best album.

Jones accomplished a similar feat with 2004’s Feels Like Home, which sold a spectacular amount of copies, establishing her as prominent musician who we would be hearing a lot from for quite some time.

Now we have Not Too Late, the third installment of the Norah Jones saga that can best be described as radiating a quiet, folksy spirit. The subdued instrumentation and quirky, literary lyrics are the essential ingredients to the record’s charm. The music’s authentic craft gives the impression that she’s just being herself and we merely happen to be taking notice.

The track “Not My Friend” is emblematic of the album’s overall easygoing, introspective feel. It has something to it that is so genuinely emotional that it almost makes me want to cry and I can’t understand why; it’s a haunting, subtle piece with Norah’s vocals as compelling as ever.

And then we have “Sinkin’ Soon” that, to put it mildly, is probably the most lighthearted song about a ship sinking with people facing imminent death that you’ll ever hear. The peculiar lyrics, “In a boat that’s built on sticks and hay/we drifted from the shore/with a captain who’s too proud to say, that he dropped the oar/now the tiny hole as sprung a leak/in this cheap pontoon/now the hull has started growing weak/and we’re gonna be sinkin’ soon,” makes it stand out immensely as the “odd” one of the pack.

“My Dear Country” also stands alone as the only politically charged ditty. From what I can conjure, it’s about the day after the 2004 Presidential election, and I remember all too well how dire that day was. Norah divulges her concerns about the winner: “but the day after is darker/and darker and darker it goes/who knows, maybe the plans will change/maybe he’s not deranged.” But she also notes her continued love for this country: “I love the things you’ve given to me/I cherish you my dear country/and most of all that I am free/to have a song that I can sing/on election day.” It’s nice to see some honest patriotism.

Norah Jones was a lounge singer and that’s exactly what her music is for—lounging. It’s all geared toward the laid back, casual soul that, every once and while, opts to mute the jarring clamor of human drama and take a deep breath. So run the bath, pour the bubble soap in, light some candles and allow this pretty piece of work to sail you away for a while.


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