First I will address the recording:
1 - This is a good recording. I have heard it on several reference systems, and it is very good. It stomps most of the other modern mass market commercial recordings made today.
2 - If you even remotely like the CD, you HAVE to hear it on vinyl. It is much better on vinyl. MUCH BETTER.
3 - Buscis2, if your room is the same as what it is in your system pics... I would not be making any judgements on the recording. You have a couch between your speakers in addition to your speakers not at all being symetrical in the least bit with your room. This does not touch your cable or speaker selection.
On Grammy and Talent...
1 - Folks, knocking Norah by saying that she has little talent is a bit funny. If you want to listen to only the most talented singers, go listen to opera. The best singers sing opera because only the best singers CAN sing opera. Singers like Ella and Jennifer Warnes could have sung opera, but even in that arena, they would have a lot of competition for being the 'best singer'.
2 - What is amazing about Norah is that she is a kid (like age 22 or so). Her production company estimated in the beginning her album sales would probably top out at 300,000 to 400,000. How many albums did she sell? Well over 10 million! Ms. Jones is NOT some sort of overproduced pop star. Her recordings really are pretty raw. There is a bit of processing, but not much. They did not spend much money producing her album. In contrast, check out the debut album from the daughter of the King. Her album is over produced to an extreme.
3 - Norah is a kid, give her time to develop. Maybe she will be a one album wonder. I doubt it. But who knows? I will love to hear her in 10 years. Singers take time to develop.
4 - Comparing Norah to the great female vocalists after one album is absurd. Give her 10 years.
5 - Did Norah deserve all of the Grammy's for an album that has two original songs and the rest covers? I know a few people who have a vote in the Grammy awards. They certainly think she has a lot of talent. Many, many people (most pretty talented, and most who know talent when they see/hear it) vote on the Grammys. Awards by their very nature are unfair. People get left out... Just ask Scorcese, he was beaten out by a convicted rapist for best director this past year. Oh well. My personal opinion is that there have been much bigger injustices handed out by awards. Anyone think Titanic and Gladiator deserved best pictures?
6 - The thing that Norah has going for her is that her sound is fresh, original, and not over produced. People loved it. It became popular. There is something to be said for being able to tap into pop culture with a kind of music that was only expected to sell MAYBE 400,000 albums max.
Personally, I love the album. She sings country tunes in a her own style that is very soulful. Her two original songs on the album are quite good as well. Her voice is recorded very, very well especially when compared to someone like Patricia Barber. I like PB a lot to, but she is usually recorded with her mouth practically around the microphone. Still like her albums though. On thing about Norah is that the album takes some time to really grow on you. The first time I heard it, I liked it. The 10th time, I was mesmerized by it.
DB
