Perfectly Clear is the seventh studio album recorded by American singer Jewel. Her first album of country music, it was released on Valory Records (an imprint of Big Machine Records) on June 3, 2008.
Album description The album is composed of a mixture of new and old fan-favorite songs, although only one of the songs had previously appeared on one of her albums. "2 Become 1", from 0304 appeared in a new country version that was re-titled, "Two Become One". Its lead single, "Stronger Woman", peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.Billboard - Hot Country Songs - Stronger Woman John Rich, one half of the country rock duo Big & Rich, produced the album.
"I Do", was released to country radio on June 23, 2008 as the album's second single, which peaked in the Top 40. "Till It Feels Like Cheating" was released on October 27, 2008 as the third single, but only stayed on the charts for one week debuting and peaking at #57. Perfectly Clear debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 with 48,000 copies. The album was released in Australia on May 29, 2009. It was released across Europe in June 2009. The European edition also includes the video for the first single "Stronger Woman". As of June 2010, the album has sold 370,000 copies worldwide, including 240,000 in the U.S.
Critical reception The album received generally favorable reviews. Rolling Stone magazine gave a mixed review, giving the album 2.5 stars out of 5. The reviewer said that "Jewel doesn't call upon the gritty storytelling of a real Nashville star […] the album is overcrowded by placid soft-rock tunes like "Two Become One" and "Anyone But You" with schmaltzy choruses and flavorless piano-laden verses." Allmusic gave a mixed review too, giving the album 3 stars out of 5. The reviewer also criticized Rich's production and the "poppy, simple songs about relationships […] but it does mean it feels more like the Jewel that everybody came to love back in 1995[.]"
A positive review came from Entertainment Weekly, which received the album well, calling Jewel an "earnest storyteller", and Billboard magazine, which said that the album "is not only persuasive, but down-home, old-school country." The New York Times gave the album an ambivalent review, saying that Jewel's voice was "sharp [and] assured" but criticizing the production.
Track listing
Personnel Jewel – vocals, acoustic guitar Jason Freese – Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron, Hammond B3 organ, strings (1) Mike Rojas – acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, accordion, Hammond B3 organ Danny Rader – acoustic guitars, hi-string guitar, bouzouki Adam Shoenfeld – electric guitars Mike Johnson – steel guitar Jonathan Yudkin – banjo, bouzouki, dulcimer, fiddle, mandolin, viola Mike Brignardello – bass guitar Ethan Pilzer – bass guitar Glenn Worf – bass guitar Steve Brewster – drums Eric Darken – percussion John Rich – harmony vocals (2, 7) Wes Hightower – harmony vocals (4, 5) Liana Manis – harmony vocals (4, 5)
Production Jewel – producer John Rich – producer Bart Pursley – recording Steve Beers – recording assistant (1) Lowell Reynolds – recording assistant Paul Hart – additional engineer Vance Powell – additional engineer Christopher Rowe – mixing Sean Truskowski – mix assistant Hank Williams – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee) Bethany Newman – art direction, design Joshua Sage Newman – art direction, design Kurt Markus – photography
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2008)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)118Australian Country Albums (ARIA)7UK Country Albums (OCC)8
Year-end charts Chart (2008)PositionUS Top Country Albums (Billboard)37
Singles Year Single Chart positions US Country US US Pop2008 "Stronger Woman" 13 84 95 "I Do" 38 — — "Till It Feels Like Cheating"57 — —
Release history Country Date United States June 3, 2008 Canada Australia May 29, 2009 Austria June 3, 2009 Germany United Kingdom June 22, 2009 Spain Denmark
References