Sweet and Wild (Deluxe Edition)

Jewel has always been a modest talent within an industry that has tried to market her as a game changer. She’s done folk-rock, written poetry, worked up dance-pop and settled into country music. All of which serves as a backdrop to the story of her being from Alaska and sleeping in her car. Strip down the myths and listen to the songs at hand and accept them for what they are, the musings of a gifted singer and songs that arrive at their destination. Jewel’s fully aware that life is moving around her. Whether it’s “No Good In Goodbye,” “Fading” or the country-rock anthem feel of “What You Are,” the tunes reflect what a young superstar now sees and feels are the elemental truths to her life. “Summer Home In Your Arms” is arguably the sweetest tune here. But it’s the bonus cuts, the acoustic numbers of the album cuts that bring us closest to Jewel’s natural talents. Despite the different “pop” presentations, Jewel is, at heart, a folksinger, most comfortable around a campfire and with that intimacy comes forth the true strength of her songs.