the positive:
I no longer feel the urge to fall asleep or kill myself after listening to her music.

the question:
is this artistic growth with substance or just more glossed-over crapola? Or maybe a bit of both? I'm still trying to decide..

I think it's her record company saying, ok, bitch your last cd didn't roll in enough money for us, so it's time to get on the popcrap train! No more fake granola chompin' folksy whining! (You know that she is just a totally made up artist, like those boy bands and Britney!)

My roomie just got this album and has been playing it non-stop. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised.

purplelu said:

I just don't understand that. Britney and the boy bands aren't really the big thing. If anything, its all about "R&B divas" (Beyonce and Ashanti) and the Anti-Britneys like Avril and Michelle Branch...Compared to Avril, Brintey is starting to sound good. Britney's last album probably sold less than Avril's and certaintly less than Norah Jone's. Jewel's "last image" fit much more into what is selling now and kiddie pop is certaintly waining. You seem to be mad and there is nothing to be mad about. Never understood that. Now I'm not buying this CD anytime soon (and don't own her others), but I think it is real artistic growth and if anything, this album might sell less than her last one (which had a pretty big hit with "Standing Still").