"Featuring" - Nora Jones Takes a Walk on the Wild Side

Featuring, Norah Jones' newest cd releases November 16, 2010. Norah -- herself -- has the same sound, but she has taken this opportunity to bring in some new sounds. This cd is a compilation, it is not traditional Norah Jones. Versatility, Diversity, Star Studded: these are the buzz words. I'd go with Creative, Artistic, Interesting, definitely, Diverse. I'm just not sure about this new cd. Look at her -- she looks equally uncertain:
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I was surprised and I don't want that to happen to you, so pay attention. I expected traditional Norah Jones. It's not uncommon for artists, once they've reached multi-platinum selling and multi-Grammy Award winning, to branch out and get a little self-indulgent and have a little fun. "It's so exciting and flattering and fun," says Jones, "when I get asked to sing with somebody that I admire. It takes you a little bit out of your comfort zone when you're doing something with another artist. You don't know what to expect -- it's kind of like being a little kid and having a playdate."

On her magnificent playdates, Jones has compiled some unusual collaborations including OutKast, Foo Fighters, Talib Kweli, Q-tip and down the Genre Avenue to Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and more typical of Jones, Herbie Hancock, The Little Willies and Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

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OutKast.... Herbie Hancock... on the same cd? Not exactly what a Norah Jones fan might expect. The average Norah Jones fan might feel a little cheated, hoodwinked. That person would be better off purchasing the singles off iTunes or something. But the true, blue Norah Jones fan will love the cd, will applaud her creativity. And then stick it proudly in their Norah Jones collection and bring it out once a year for some type of party background noise because Norah offers up something for everyone.

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I love creativity and diversity, but not with my Norah Jones. Don't mess with my Norah Jones. Here's a little word picture I might express to my psychoanalyst: I've been riding the Norah Jones Bus along the same predictable route every day for many years now. Suddenly, today, the Norah Jones Bus is taking a different route, the seats feel different, there are some freaks on the seats beside me and the destination is ambiguous, leaving me and many other fans retreating to the bus stop & waiting, uncertainly, nervously for the next Norah Jones Bus.

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Maybe it's the new hair-do? She's adorable, but definitely a different Norah Jones. Featuring will make you smile, will make your eyebrows raise, will make you applaud.... but it just might also leave you shrugging and saying "meh."

Visit NorahJones.com where you can hear some samples off the cd.
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Full disclosure: The One2One Network provided a free cd for me for the purposes of this review. In no way does that affect my review. I received no monetary compensation, although I will be entered for a chance to win a gift card. But I never win anything, so that doesn't count.