Musically, the song counterbalances the existential weight with an evocative string arrangement from Paul Wiancko, curls of violin like birds darting through the sky, viola dropping like rain on growing flowers.When daily life in modern America feels compounded by an endless array of issues and calls for hope, Jones’ songs pare away details to let the big moments speak for themselves. Her lyrics aren’t refined and toiled over, but instead cut straight to the core, as if written directly after each painful moment. As the track ends, Jones’ heart is caught behind in brambles, the loss felt deeply, though the minimalist lyrics only hint at the story. And though the solution to her pain may seem easy — love, right there in front of Jones’ face — there’s a revelatory power to the sway, and comfort in the conviction.Other experiments leave behind the political sphere to push into more personal territory, though again leaving room for listeners to feel every word without the weight of distance or minutiae. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment.The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. But the eclectic, always classy Jones … Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Walking the fine line between vague and blunt can be tricky, and “Pick Me Up Off the Floor” keeps itself squarely on the latter. Pick Me Up Off The Floor, released via Capital Records, opens with an airy “How I Weep” with back-and-forth guitar picking, which introduces the singer’s breathy vocals. “To live in this moment and finally be free / Is what I was after, no chains holding me,” she sings over the gospel-tinted, horn-laden track. Its opener, “How I Weep,” makes its sorrow felt in the subtle interplay between her piano, Paul Wiancko’s cello, and Ayane Kozasa’s violin. Pick Me Up Off the Floor opens to the dulcet tones of “How I Weep.” A minimalist composition, as is Jones’ signature style, the track utilizes an emotional cello to accentuate the siren’s flawless vocals before beginning a delicate prance capped off with subtle orchestration. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium.
It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Its opener, “How I Weep,” makes its sorrow felt in the subtle interplay between her piano, Paul Wiancko’s cello, and Ayane Kozasa’s violin. Collection of songs is cohesive but draws on an inspired and eclectic range of influencesWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Co-written by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, the song uses a nameless “she” as a stand-in for Jones herself and women around the world. “She’s crushed by thoughts at night of men / Who want her rights / And usually win / But she’s alive,” Jones exhales, the trademark smoke in her voice weaving through muscly piano, Tweedy’s choppy acoustic guitar and his son Spencer’s nimble drumming. “How I weep, and I sleep, and I march, and I dance … but inside, inside I weep,” she pours out on the album’s opener. “He screams, he shouts / The heads on the TV bow / They take the bait / They mirror waves of hate,” Jones adds — a straightforward yet no less affecting summation of the last few years in American politics.Elsewhere, “To Live” digs into more oppression, but aches to break through. “Oh hey, hey, it’s gonna be okay my little one / I promise we’ll find our way.” As angelic pedal steel guitar and backing vocals blur into a radiant corona, Jones’ voice boosts into another range: “Find a way out!” she calls, bursting out of the gloom.It’s tempting to align that song and others under a banner of protest or response to the Trump presidency. A variety of discomforts put Jones down, but the process of rendering them in song is an act of uplift.Rather than set out to record an album, Jones initially cobbled together a series of studio sessions as one-offs, expecting to come away with a few songs to round out the 2019 singles collection “Begin Again.” Even after releasing those songs, however, she found herself sitting with a surplus of material. It’s incredibly rare for “leftovers” to comprise a cohesive album, but “Pick Me Up Off the Floor” does just that.Though stretching its borders from stormcloud blues to orchestral jazz pop to lithe Motown, the album is tied together by Jones’ ineffable ability to convey big emotions with simplicity. Read Next: Lady Gaga Lives for the Applause of ‘Chromatica,’ Praises Producer Tchami for Getting the Album to Its Happy Place The album’s title even reckons with that dual strength, laid out and calling out for someone to lend a hand. “Flame Twin” complements Norah’s signature jazz-piano beginnings with a quick introduction of percussion. Album highlight “Heartbroken, Day After” sells both the angst and the yearning within words of each other. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates.Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate?Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughtsPlease be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughtsNorah Jones is far more daring than most would believeNorah Jones’s new album is one of her most intriguing in years