Eilen Jewell - Queen of the Minor Key

Eilen Jewell - Boston-based Americana singer/songwriter is back with her fourth album, a generous and inspired collection of spunky country-meets-roots/rock produced by Jewell and her band that just happens to be one of the nicest surprises of the year... the successor to Jewell's 2009 release Sea of Tears also follows up her fronting the Butcher Holler tribute album to Loretta Lynn last year // Release: Queen of the Minor Key (Signature Sounds) // Sounds like: Alt-country just doesn't get jazzier than this...Jewell possesses a glistening voice able to turn the simplest phrase into a sultry come on...the liberal use of horns mixed in with the roadhouse steel-guitar-twanged energy give the album an appealing, moody duality -- it takes us back to the days when country, pop, blues and early rock n' roll were shaken vigorously and served with a twist // Quote: "Every time I make a record, I want it to be even more real, more heartfelt, than the one before it. I want the slow songs to be slower and the fast songs to be faster." // What we like: While there's plenty of smoky atmosphere to burn, Jewell wryly keeps the mood light and (dare we say) swinging even in the noirish shadows..."Hooked" is a nimble, flirtatious number that sashays with poodle-skirted sweetness while the title track speeds down the backroads with a Duane Eddy overdrive, thanks to the stellar fret work from guitarist Jerry Miller...

Eilen Jewell - "Santa Fe" (from Queen of the Minor Key)

Eilen Jewell - "Queen of the Minor Key" (from Queen of the Minor Key)