Unbelievable
Jeremy Gloff | Tampa, Fl United States | 08/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a musician myself, but the musicians I grew up listening to I refer to as "my friends". I have stayed in touch with some of these "friends" throughout the years, and some of us have lost touch. One of these friends is Prince, and I have kept up with his output pretty much, but to be honest nothing of his has really grabbed my soul and worked its way into the tapestry of my life since his Beautiful EP. That was kinda the last time Prince and I really spent a lot of time together. MUSICOLOGY probably went into my CD player 2 or 3 times... But back in 1987, I was so in awe of the whole Paisly Park camp. Even more than Prince, I loooooooooved Vanity 6, and Apollonia 6. (Ohh Brenda was soo f'in cool!!!) And Sheila E...and throughout the years I have probably spent more time with my Wendy and Lisa CDS than with my Prince CDs themself. As I grew up, sometimes I would dust off the old Romance 1600 cds, or listen to good old Vanity (eer I'm sorry, Denise Matthews Smith)...but I could relate to them like I could when I was 17. All those old CDs are fun to sing along to, and remember how I was a flaming gay boy in the closet, dancing around to Sheila and longing for my own Belle of ST Mark. But who was that backup singer on "the Belle of St Mark"? It was Jill Jones. J.J. When I moved to Buffalo New York in 1995 I finally found Miss Jill's first album for $1.99 at this store called Record Theatre. My jaw hit the floor. I knew that album was impossible to find, and there it was. I snatched it up! It was always on my list to find and buy. So I took Jill Jones home with me, and made a good friend with her album. Oh how it rocked me. Her vocals were too wild! I consider most of the first Jill Jones album to be a classic, and the majority of the first 7 tracks on the album are just classic pop songs. But then you get to the last song "Baby I'm a Trip." And you realize, just what this girl is capable of doing. Sure, "Mia Boca" really rocks, and "All Day All Night" is wound so tight your legs want to fall off dancing... But on "Baby I'm a Trip" the emotive voice...the true soul of Jill Jones poured through the stereo and into my life and soul. The first Jill Jones album was in heavy rotation for all of 1995...that was also the year I discovered Teena Marie, but that's a whole different story (I only bring that up because Jill got her start with Lady T...) I lost track of Jill. An old friend missing. But with the internet, us music lovers were able to try to track down some of our old friends. Well it was a couple years ago I heard about the second Jill Jones CD. My interest was definitely piqued...but I am a lot different of a person I was when I was 21. My music tastes have moved on...I discovered Emmylou Harris and Marianne Faithfull...broken and fallen angels whose lives and heartbreaks and songs became the soundtrack for my late 20s. I have continued to write my own music and release my own albums. My commitment to my art and music is unwavering. Finally, I decided it was time to buckle down and get the second Jill Jones album. I can see that it is already getting harder to buy online, and I don't want to miss the boat. I was more buying the CD out of curiousity, and since I'm definitely a music collector, I wanted my collection to be complete. [...]. I didn't really check my PO Box waiting for it too much, but there it was, three days ago. And the postmark said it was sent from Portland Oregon. Already a good sign, that's a fabulous place... So here I am, in Tampa, 30 years old. I open the new Jill Jones CD and pop it into my cheap diskman car stereo. How punk. How pathetic. Wasn't I supposed to be famous by now? I start driving. The guitar intro to "Station" starts. It's actually kind reminds me of a song off the new Marianne Faithful album. Then comes the voice. That voice. And the words...those words. I actually lose my breath. All these years of jadedness, and numbing... It's been so long since I have met a guy who can capture my interest for more than 5 minutes. And I have bought a lot of music over the last 10 years, and a lot of that music has touched me. But it's been years and years since a song has stopped me in my tracks, and really made the earth stop. I got home, and ate dinner. Then I went up to my room and listened to the whole album. Not only was it good to catch up with an old "friend" -- I was amazed at the woman and artist this old "friend" has become. This album...this album...has an emotional and lyrical intensity I wasn't prepared for. In one very personal verse, Jill Jones has written something deeper and more profound than anything Prince has ever touched. I can't stop playing this album. I can't stop welling up in tears when I hear some of the words, and think of how it relates to my own life and my own evolution. I would give anything to write songs with Jill Jones. I will talk about the actual music a little bit so if anyone considering buying the album is curious, they know what they are in for. The music itself is very atmospheric, almost Mazzy Star-ish (I never liked them, but it's just a reference point...) The music is otherworldly...almost like a night time space ship satellite orbiting into my life... And the words themselves come from a place in the heart that knows of wisdom, experience, art, heartbreak, and mending. The day after I bought this album, I bought Tori Amos' THE BEEKEEPER. Tori is known for her emotional intensity...but halfway through that album I just took it out and put Jill back in. I love Tori, but her new music is light years away from the was this new Jill Jones album has moved me. I am telling you now, if you are curious about this album because you grew up loving Prince and his friends like I did, buy it now. I have a feeling copies of this album are pretty limited... If you were an outcast artsy kid who idolized Sheila E and Jill, but who grew up into a complex genuine individual, buy this music. I have written a book here, but I needed to just let someone out there know how music this album has meant to me. I often share my new favorite music with my friends, or with the audience members at my show. I have tried playing this album with other people around, but it's just too personal with me. Jill, there are some lost and artistic fabulous individuals out there who love your art. I love the fact that for years and years, your music has been our little secret. I doubt you will ever read this, but I am so thankful you never got famous and faded. The new music on this CD surpasses anything any of those other girls have done. I kinda feel like a dorky fanatic fan writing such a long glowing review, but for something to bring me to tears, it's just really special. Not many things can do that to me anymore
"
That Voice !
Armando M. Mesa | Chandler, AZ | 10/07/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jill Jones was never one to conform to Prince's Paisley Park camp due to the fact she was the most talented and gifted of his female protogees. But Jones was not just another mere protogee. She has been in the music business herself even before meeting Prince as a back up singer for Teena Marie and various artists ! Two is miles and light years apart from her 1987 (out of print)Paisley Park debut album. Her voice has matured and is even more soulful and fluid-like than ever before. Her style of music has changed. Where it once sported the high tech sound of the Purple One it now boasts a more raw, edgier, yet very organic and natural atmosphere. It's like soft alternative meets soul. That voice of hers is the ultimate instrument on this lastest production. This is not a dance-funk or pop-camp album of any sort. This is the real deal. Her vocals are smooth and captivating, enticing, but beware for they do pack a strong soulful punch !"
She's Still Got It, And She Always Will !!!!!!
IJustDiedAlive | Northern CA, USA | 06/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow, how can I describe this album to you in any other way then to just say it's some of the best music I have ever heard. I have been a fan of Jill Jones since the first album in 87' but I have to admit I did not know that she had another album out in 2001 until last March. I did'nt know what to expect from this album but when I heard it I was very surprised to hear that the Prince style music and vocals were all but gone. It is pure Jill...and it did not disappoint me at all. To me this album is just as good as the first. It's just a different style. Chris Bruce lends his amazing musical talent to Jill's lyrics to help complete this very explosive album. This cd is now available on I-Tunes as well as Jill's 2004 cd with The Grand Royals entitled "Wasted". Go get it now!!!!"
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1