Rickie Lee Jones
Album: The Devil You Know
Label: Decca
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.rickieleejones.com

Rickie Lee Jones has long been viewed as an idiosyncratic singer songwriter that has been more than willing to challenge that which is often defined as 'the norm'. Her refusal to compromise has won her a hard corps of fans that have offered unwavering support.

That support has allowed her to continue to produce albums that push the boundaries of music and song, many of which have been incorporated in what the mainstream becomes. I don't think it's any coincidence that a number of the more recent generation of singer songwriters cite Jones as an influence.

"The Devil You Know" sees Jones applying herself on the works of other songwriters and traditional songs such as the deep and dark "St James Infirmary". I'm not a fan of her interpretation, but I can see what she's trying to achieve and credit to her for trying. I'll hold my hand up and say that on that particular song, it may be because I've heard it being interpreted many times and feel that I know where the song does go best, as much my fault as hers.

The same is not true for the rest of the album, on first listening, I didn't make it through the whole album, I didn't make it all the way through on the second attempt either, but deliberately listened to the other tracks first.

On both occasions there were tracks on the album that I really thought contained moments of real genius, to the point when you couldn't believe that the original creator of the song missed it when they put pen to paper, finger to note and chord, the problem is that, with the one exception, which songs it was changed from play to play.

In a sense "The Devil You Know" is unreviewable, it's too ephemeral to pin down. I've still not listened to the whole album in one sitting, I am both fascinated and repelled by the sparse country-folk-blues delivery, but can't stop myself from going back for more. Ultimately, all I can say is this is Rickie Lee Jones, music would be a shallower pond without her ilk.

Neil King