Eilen Jewell - Letters From Sinners and Strangers

(contributed by John Matthews)

From the onset, Eilen (pronounced like 'wheelin') Jewell's second CD, Letters from Sinners and Strangers, starts jumping. The first words she almost moans, "Well, it's a rich man's world," come in over a backdrop of rockabilly and country with a modern feel. It's impossible to miss the smooth, sultry loneliness as she sachets through every song on the album.

Swinging Through Genres

Letters from Sinners and Strangers (Signature Sounds) stands as a wonderful second release. It's full of surprises. The album haunts like Chris Isaac, swings to country and jazz, goes south of the border and gets down with some acoustic blues, all the while maintaining its straight-up country vibe.

The second track, "Dusty Boxcar Wall," really brings out the lonely sounds Eilen is so effortlessly capable of. Her vocals bring to life every word she breathes. Surprisingly, she quotes the classic "House of the Rising Sun," seamlessly working in, "The only two things a gambler needs are a suitcase and a trunk / and the only time he's satisfied is when he's on a drunk." She continues throughout the disc to work in meaningful and relevant lyrics with her soulful singing.

The third track, "High Shelf Booze," features clarinetist, Alec Spiegelman. Spiegelman's tone is reminisce of Arty Shaw in his heyday—a real treat.

Keeping it Simple

Eilen plays acoustic rhythm guitar on most of the tunes and throws in a couple of harmonica solos. Her band is top-notch, and their musicianship cannot be overstated on this release. Perhaps the most telling feature of the album is she and the band don't do with the songs. They don't pack each tune with as much sound as possible. Every song allows the listener breathing room and a chance to interpret. Eilen, a designated soprano, never overstates her vocals and hangs back enough to let each track flow.