When veteran singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones released her debut Pirates in 1979, most of us were not even born. But it's not too late to discover her unique sound, and in fact her latest album, The Evening of My Best Day, is a great introduction.
The CD is Jones' first new release in six years, and it is said that George W. Bush's so-called patriotism reignited her desire to pen music. But while many musicians tend to express their disapproval with angry-sounding tracks, Jones goes for a mellow style.
Tell Somebody (Repeal the Patriot Act Now) is obviously the most political track on the album. Jones expresses her thoughts along to a crossover folk/blues sound.
The whole record is a graceful blending of folk, jazz, blues and strings arrangements. Jones, though aged 49, possesses an angelic, melancholic voice, and delivers beautifully crafted melodies such as Bitcheonostrophy in a casual style.
A Face In the Crowd, probably the heaviest song from the album, winds the CD up on a memorable note.