Pick Me Up Off The Floor - Norah Jones
Reviewer: Craig Hoffman
American singer and songwriter Norah Jones is out with Pick Me Up Off The Floor. It’s her eighth album. Jones has won multiple music awards in her career including nine Grammys for her previous work. It is hard to believe that she has been pumping out amazing music for more than twenty years.
This latest effort falls short of some of the earlier work of Jones, especially her platinum-selling debut Come Away With Me (2003). This new album is also rather short at just eleven tracks and a running time of a shade over 45 minutes. Still, it is a reminder that while the music scene has changed since her debut, there is a place for her smooth, silky vocals and funky piano riffs.
As of this writing, Pick Me Up Off The Floor has entered the Billboard Top 100 in the US at a disappointing number 87. It is also trending in the top 20-30 range in several international markets. But it is the first record by the artist not to debut in the top three in America. It appears some of the luster of the once great commercial appeal of Jones has worn off, and that’s a shame.
Pick Me Up Off The Floor is mostly Jones, and that is a good thing. Wilco guitarist Jeff Tweedy pops in on two tunes, “Say No More,” and “Heaven Above.” These are nice collaborations with Jones as she skillfully weaves her musical magic through a range of emotions both light and dark. The music in the album is inventive and original enough to keep even today’s younger techno-lovin’ fans engaged, if not sell millions of copies anymore.
The album likely could use a bouncier tune as it leans towards the artist’s more familiar ballad-style simply to chart higher in 2020. Yet, Pick Me Up Off The Floor strives for and successfully finds a balance of edgy personal and political prose. Jones provides a strong voice and position needed in today’s rather difficult times for many people.
“Heartbroken” is a classic example of the singer’s powerful vocals and artistic presence that continues to transcend time. It’s can’t-miss listening for any music fan, as is the entire album. It’s a concise and solid effort in the folk-jazz-pop mixed genre that is Norah Jones.
Final Take: Again, Pick Me Up Off The Floor is unlikely to reach the music chart or commercial success of Jones’ previous outings. But the album is a testament to the creativity, style, and musicianship that have made Norah Jones a household name while selling 50 million copies. Buy it; you won’t be disappointed.
4.25/5 stars.
To read Craig's review of Chromatica by Lady Gaga click here
