A smudged Jem is brought down to earth…
Following on from her 2005 debut album, ‘Finally Woken’, years have passed and Jem has become a big star across the pond with many of her songs appearing on a whole list of popular TV shows and films, so here on ‘Down To Earth’ Jem attempts to be slightly more experimental. Working with producer Jeff Bass, who is most notably known for his work with the likes of Eminem, D12, and 50 Cent, along with producer Lester Mendez, who has worked with Shakira and Nelly Furtado, you can then get an idea as to how this album shapes up musically, as it goes from pop, to salsa-beats, and dancehall cuts…
First song and album title track, ‘Down To Earth’ has a Christina Aguilera beat with vocals that are a cross between Enya and Nelly Furtado. Things then get funky in, ‘Crazy’ that bizarrely has a Funk beat, but with a banjo…It’s one of the better songs on here. There is a touch of salsa-influenced Pop in, ‘I Want You To…’ that could’ve been recorded by Geri Halliwell, whereas ‘It’s Amazing’ is a little like Portishead with piano-led Trip-Hop meets Pop, as is ‘Keep On Walking’ that has a wonderful loop that I can here Eminem rapping over the top of now. Shame.
‘You Will Make It’ is a nice and simple Pop ballad, whereas over some nice strings and more piano we have a mid-tempo Pop song of, ‘I Always Knew’ which shows that Jem has a low vocal range that is good, but she cannot hit the high notes at all, (and choosing not to try for the most part) and therefore may be better as part of an all girl band instead of as solo artist. ‘Got It Good’ is another of those songs that could be in a teen movie, however the inclusion of, ‘Aciiid!’ only shows that Jem isn’t totally sure of what her musical direction is. Labelled a ‘smart-dance-pop’ track, it takes elements of ‘90’s Dub, and feels like a poor remix song.
Slow number, ‘How Would You Like It’ is a bit like a Pink track but minus the grit and snarl of the Pop/Rock Diva, whilst the simple backbeat of, ‘And So I Prey’ could’ve been Money Mark messing around, although the actual song is pretty good. The album finishes with another slow track that is only a coupe of tempos off of being a lullaby. It’s gentle and soothing, and this is probably where Jem’s strength lies.
This album marks exactly what Jem has become and that is slightly confused with her direction, and whilst she will always be able to write a good slow ballad, and offer a couple of songs for television shows and movies, as an artist she pales in comparison to her peers, which is a shame. She lacks the attitude and Diva-esque to bully her way to the front, the high-end vocal talent of the Mariah’s and Christina’s of this world, the catchiness of a Britney, the poetry of Ana Brun and many other things that others have in their corner, that perhaps Jem needs to find. ‘Down To Earth’ is a bit of a mix in styles, however it could well be that she’s done enough to be able to take a chance like this. The jury is still out here…