Goodbye Alice in Wonderland | 
| Artist: Jewel
Label: Atlantic / Wea
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy Used: $1.99
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Seller: Archlute_li
Rating:  125 reviews
Sales Rank: 6,646
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.4
UPC: 075678379925
EAN: 0075678379925
ASIN: B000ESSTMO
Release Date: May 2, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Again and Again | | • | Long Slow Slide | | • | Goodbye Alice in Wonderland | | • | Good Day | | • | Satellite | | • | Only One Too | | • | Words Get In the Way | | • | Drive To You | | • | Last Dance Rodeo | | • | Fragile Heart | | • | Stephenville, TX | | • | Where You Are | | • | 1000 Miles Away |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The word "confessional" is frequently applied to folk of all stripes, including folk-rock and folk-pop, which is where Jewel comes in. Even within the bounds of folk, however, her music is more nakedly confessional than most. (Too nakedly, some have carped.) Along with a coterie of Nashville pros, she began her latest musical journey by laying down another introspective song cycle in the vein of 1995's Pieces of You. Dissatisfied with the results, the Texas-based artist scrapped that effort and re-recorded with Rob Cavallo (Green Day). This lends her sixth album the expected rock edge, but Jewel hasn't changed her spots. If anything, she sounds more like, well, Jewel than she did on dance-oriented departure 0304. She's still pop star ("Fragile Heart"), sensitive folkie ("Long Slow Slide"), and scrappy country gal ("Stephenville, TX"). Her Joni Mitchell-esque soprano soars as high as ever, with more of a sardonic Dylan chaser than before. What's changed is that maturity has granted Jewel, now in her early 30s, greater perspective--"Growing up is not an absence of dreaming," she states in the title track--and a sense of humor missing from her more earnest early work. On "Satellite," for instance, written when she was 18, but revamped since, she notes that "the Pope," "rock and roll," "Valium," even "Miss Cleo" can't fix her broken heart. In her statement about the album, Jewel claims that, after years of ups and downs, she's "not broken, just more myself." --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Album Description
Jewel is about to deliver her most personal and autobiographical record so far-Goodbye Alice in Wonderland. Not content to relegate herself to a traditional music arena, or to be typecast, Jewel has established herself as a culturally significant and relevant brand. Author, songwriter, actress, poet-there are no limits to how Jewel can and will deliver her message. The underlining truth that ties it all together is the integrity of that message.
Album Description
Japanese pressing of pop/rock/folk singer/songwriter's 2006 offering includes an exclusive bonus track. Atlantic. 2006.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 125
 "Life is much better without all those pretty lies." Jewel returns with a winning album.. May 2, 2006
A. G. Corwin
70 out of 80 found this review helpful
Three years after the stylistic departure of her last album 0304, Jewel returns in winning style with her 6th album, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland. Weaving her introspective lyrics with fresh and exciting songwriting, Jewel produces her finest album since Pieces of You. You would think that with 25 million albums sold, a successful poetry collection, roles in several major films, and a great romance with rodeo star Ty Murray, Jewel would be happily looking to the future. Instead Jewel looks to the past, opening up her life and rise to fame with a critical and exploring eye.
Long Slow Ride is a track where Jewel's positively sensual vocals clash intriguingly with the dark lyrical themes of falling downwards and loss. This darkness slides right into the outstanding acoustic title track, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland. Here Jewel points directly at herself, noting that "I'm embarrassed to say, the rest is rock and roll cliche..I hit the bottom and reached the top." where "fame is filled with spoiled children." Harshly honest, she wraps her criticisms in comforting melodies and her gentle voice. Jewel faces the uncertainty of adult life on one of the best tracks, Stephenville, TX, as she sings of "trying to figure out who I am..now that the stardust has turned to sand..and the sand turned to stone...on the star making machine.", but she realizes that she's "got nothing to lose..i'm an entertainer." Jewel is learning that she only has to be herself to be appreciated and happy.
This themes reappear subtly throughout the remainder of the album. The incredibly catchy commercial pop of Again and Again, Only One Two, and Words Get In The Way reveal snippets of this lyrical theme in addition to highly addictive melodies. Jewel also takes some stylistic risks with tracks like Satellite, a slinky and funky critique of shallow California lifestyles, Good Day(Clean), which combines a fascinating spoken word vocal with a bouncy rhythm, and the gentle and calming acoustic Last Dance Rodeo. Closing tracks Where You Are and 1000 Miles Away cap off the album perfectly and bring to mind Jewel's earliest works.
Co-producer Rob Cavallo, who has produced hit albums with the Goo Goo Dolls and Green Day, ensures a cohesive sound, with the right amount of strings and electric guitar to balance the acoustic guitar that is Jewel's hallmark. The album offers some of the year's best pop-rock commercial tracks as well as intriguing and complex acoustic and folk-country songs. There is little filler on this album; almost each track could be a single. Goodbye Alice in Wonderland is an enjoyable, fun album that is a welcome return for the "modern day troubadour" that we love. Highly Recommended and on the short list for 2006's Top 5 albums.
A.G. Corwin
St.Louis, MO
Thumbs up May 11, 2006
platonica (Sweden)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
I actually got this album today and it's extraordinary. As I expected.
Jewel is fascinating. Most artists today makes one great album, and then fails with the follow-up, because it sounds too much or too little like the debut album. But not Jewel. Each of her 6 albums has its very own sound that makes Jewel interesting, but still, there's something I can't quite put my finger on, that makes the listener recognize Jewel's spirit in each song. Sometimes she also displays a very strange sense of humor that's simply irresistable.
Now for Goodbye Alice in Wonderland. I love it, each and every song. The title track is very special to me, because I can relate to the "journey" she describes. Only One Too sounds like it could have been performed by one of those rude 20th-century-girl-groups. Fragile Heart was actually one of my least favourite tracks on 0304, but this version is much better.
Basically, this album is romantic, but it definitely has up-tempo songs. I'm also amazed by her voice, or should I say voices, because she has a wide range of nuances that she uses very skillfully. She has differed between these nuances earlier, but not within songs the same way that she does in this album. Again and Again is an example in which this is more obvious.
This album is worth every cent many times over, my favourite buy this year, and possibly this century.
A Turning Point in Jewel's Career September 27, 2006
Shannon
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I have had a long musical relationship with Jewel. I feel like she's been a part of my life forever. That's not the reality, but it is true that she is very much responsible for getting me into music. I'm a college student now and music is a huge part of my life. Everything from the Beatles to the Clash to Tori Amos is beautiful and timeless to my ears and I will continue to nurse my addiction to CDs for the rest of my life. None of this would be true if it weren't for Jewel.
I grew up liking music pretty much the same amount that any little kid does. When I was very young, I used to love to sing along with Raffi songs (like "Baby Beluga" and "Apples and Bananas"). I have great childhood memories of riding in the car while my parents listened to the Allman Brothers Band. My first musical obsession was, rather unfortunately, the Spice Girls. My father, bless his heart, even took me to see them in concert. However, I didn't really start to love and NEED music in my life until I discovered Jewel. It wasn't "Pieces of You" that did it for me. I was way too young when it came out to be a fan. I was introduced to Jewel by listening to "Spirit." I bought it on a whim one day in Seattle and I listened to it on the car as we drove home. It was like nothing I had ever heard before.
That album-"Spirit"- pretty much got me through middle school. I have internalized it like you wouldn't believe. I know every note of that thing. I listened to it when things were going well for me and I listened to it when I was having a hard time. It was my emotional oasis. I went on to buy "Pieces of You" and realized I was very familiar with the singles off of it and didn't even know it. I bought "This Way" and "0304" the days they came out. I saw Jewel in concert in August 2002 and it was amazing. I've grown up since then. I've listened to a ton of music and Jewel is no longer my favorite artist...but she will always have her own little place in my heart. She was the first musician who meant something to me and I will continue to buy all of her albums faithfully. All right, let's talk in specifics now that I've gushed for awhile.
"Goodbye Alice in Wonderland" is Jewel's latest album. It came out in May (and, yes, I bought it the day it came out) but I'm not reviewing it until now because I wanted to get to know it really well. Now that I don't worship the ground Jewel walks on (as I did in middle school) I can listen to this album objectively. And with each listen, it just becomes even better for me. Jewel's voice is still beautiful. She has this amazing ability to be wispy and delicate one moment and to cut right to the bone with her voice the next. Her lyrics continue to be very straightforward and friendly. Jewel always just feels like a friend talking to you. And the songs...the songs are just plain beautiful.
Jewel has said that she arranged this songs in a cycle and I can really feel that whenever I listen to it, even if it is hard to put your finger on exactly what it is. This album basically tells the story of Jewel as she searched for fame and fortune and eventually realized that love is what she needs most of all. I'll just finish up by saying what I think each song represents in this cycle. Just remember that every one of them is outstanding from a melodic and emotional point of view (with my personal favorites being "Stephenville, TX," "1000 Miles Away" and the title track):
1. "Again and Again"- She is in a relationship that, though rocky, will probably survive. She is willing to fight for it.
2. "Long Slow Slide"- The first in a series of four songs about losing faith in celebrity and Hollywood. She becomes disillusioned with the world of show business and her relationship begins to crumble, leaving her feeling helpless.
3. "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland"- She comes to terms with the fact that her life in show business has turned out NOT to be the fairy tale she envisioned it to be. She knows that love, to, is not a fairy tale.
4. "Good Day"- The third in the series in which she lies awake at night trying to think of reasons why she continues to live life as a singer and why she is staying in a relationship that isn't what it used to be. She is optimistic, but fragile.
5. "Satellite"- Her final dismissal of the Hollywood life.
6. "Only One Too"- She realizes that the man she is with is the love of her life, despite any problems they may be having.
7. "Words Get In the Way"- She tries to express these feelings to her man, but it may be too late.
8. "Drive to You"- She travels a great distance to reconnect with her lover and tell him that he is the thing that is worth living for.
9. "Last Dance Rodeo"- She and her lover reconnect. This is basically the sex moment on the album.
10. "Fragile Heart"- A symbolic reworking of a song from the "0304" album. Jewel's heart is still fragile as they try to start anew in their relationship and she tries to start anew as an artist.
11. "Stephenville, TX"- Jewel's coming out song as a new kind of artist. She has been playing this song for years and it is her autobiography set to music. She looks back on where she's come from.
12. "Where You Are"- The final triumph of her love over all.
13. "1000 Miles Away"- Despite the fact that love won, she still has to travel for her career. This is about dealing with the distance and knowing that they are close emotionally.
That's what I hear when I listen, anyway. This is a beautiful, riveting album and I'm sad that it didn't perform well. Check out her appearance on "Fishbowl." She's still got it!
'Alice' Brings Jewel Back to Her Roots June 5, 2006
Adam (MV, MO USA)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
Jewel's career has touted many different faces, themes, and sounds for its singer/songwriter. I've been listening to her since she burst out when I was a wee 4 years old (no joke) and I've never parted ways with her.
There's something about her that gets me everytime. Not to mention, I own all of her albums. Each of them has some quality that seperates it from its predecessors and followers. "Pieces of You", the unbeaten debut album, was filled with introspection, and was recorded very raw. Her Sophomore album "Spirit" was dark, but filled with religious symbolism. There was the Christmas album "Joy" and in 2001, we saw the arrival of "This Way", her most country-style outing to date.
Then "0304" came out. Jewel fans ran away screaming when they saw the gorgeous blonde shaking her rump in the "Intuition" video, but I gave it a shot. Oddly enough, the album is just as great as all of her other works. It's just very up-beat. You can dance to it, but it's still Jewel at its core.
And then she came back with this. I bought "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland" the day it came out and it hasn't left my cd player since. In the liner notes of the album, Jewel writes "This is my most personal work since Pieces of you", and it shows.
The album showcases a woman who has grown significantly and isn't afraid to reveal herself to her listeners.
The lead single and album opener "Again and Again" was co-written by rock super-producer John Shanks (Ashlee Simpson, Michelle Branch) and is very different from the rest of the album in its pop sensibilities. It's a pretty obvious song. "you're always on my mind, it's like this all the time". A good love song, but a bit uninspired. Still beautiful, though.
The second track "Long Slow Slide" contains warblings about the circus compared to the ups & downs of love. "you laugh half-heartedly at the punchline, not realizing they've made you the joke." It's understated double-meanings are the key to this song. Definetely one of my favorite tracks on the album.
"Goodbye Alice in Wonderland" is the song that always manages to get my friends to buy the record. Containing many references to stardom and the troubles attained therein, the title track reveals a Jewel who isn't immune to the soul-searching you do when you hit the big time. "I hate to say the rest is rock'n'roll cliche', I hit the bottom, when I reached the top." It's beautiful and the lyrics are extremely catchy.
The following track contains some lightly-sung, almost poetry like lyrics a'la Bob Dylan. "Good Day" is a song of self-assurance when you wake up in the middle of the night wondering what the day to come will bring. "It's gonna be alright, 'cos I'm alright with me" Jewel cries as she tries to reassure herself that everything is fine. Outstanding and upbeat, the song is very old school Jewel.
"Satellite" is one of the most poigyant tracks on the album. It addresses a lot of the problems with our society. Jewel compares satellites to broken hearts and the cover-ups we use to hide our sorrow. It's surprisingly fast, but manages to clock-in at 5:05. Catchy and well-delivered.
Ah, the pain of loving someone who doesn't want to love you monogomously in return. "Only One Too" is another John Shanks co-creation that features an almost screaming Jewel trying to make her lover realize his wrongdoings. "I'll love you when I am the only one too!" It's a pretty simple song, but it's message and beat are very catchy and angsty.
"Words Get in the Way" is very easy to relate to. The title says it all. The song is about when you have trouble telling someone how you really feel about them, especially when they're not in your life a lot anymore. "tell your boss you're dead, and let's go back to bed" is probably my favorite line in the whole track. Just amazing.
The next track is probably my favorite on "Goodbye". "Drive to You" is a very 'on the road' kind of track. "when did my heart first feel this way, being alone used to be just fine now life without you is just passing time". It's so beautiful lyrically and musically it's hard not to love this song. "So I drive to you tonight, I was blind now I have sight, I couldn't leave you even if I tried - your heart beats inside of me."
The "Last Dance Rodeo" is a song about loneliness covered by promiscuity. The song tells the tale of that girl at the Rodeo who tries to capture men like cattle because of insecurities rather than to get involved. "You're no longer human, you're an insatiable whore" is one of the most "Pieces of You" lines in the entire album. "What you need is a heart to call home" Jewel cries out during the chorus.
"Fragile Heart" follows. A track re-hashed from "0304", Jewel said on her website she felt it 'deserved a second chance', and honestly, it's better on this album than on the previous one. The tempo is better, the guitars are less chaotic, and the lyric delivery is more serene. I'm glad she re-recorded this one, I liked the lyrics on the original, but the music was all wrong.
The next track "Stephenville, TX" is about where Jewel is at in her life now. Really introspective and featuring lyrics aimed directly at her relationship with Ty, she speaks of how she moved away to live with her boyfriend and compares taking things out of the closet to the temporarity of everything in life. It's got a great beat and features some more Bob Dylan poetry in which Jewel calls herself a 'blonde bombshell diety'.
"Where Are You" features a somewhat spanish guitar line with Jewel singing strong over the music about wondering why your lover is so avoidant, but no matter what you'll always end up where they are. Beautiful and featuring some of Jewel's best lyrical delivery on the album, it's destined to bea Jewel classic.
Album closer "1000 Miles Away" only has a guitar and a few piano notes with Jewel's voice sounding almost as if it were recorded live, the song is about no matter how far away you are from someone you're always with them. Beautiful and simplistic, the song is a perfect way to end the album.
Jewel's most romantically-centered album to date, "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland" showcases a very grown-up Jewel making the kind of beautiful, relatable music we've come to expect her to make.
I can't stress how badly people need to buy this album. It's going to be a clssic for sure.
Jewel's most consistent album July 9, 2006
LA's Critic (Los Angeles)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Confessional folk-rock singer-songwriter Jewel has always delivered albums containing some great, memorable singles with the remainder being lots and lots of filler; her latest offering does not follow the same suit as previous releases, though. Instead, the album is the most consistent in Jewel's ten year career. From the enchanting opener "Again and Again" to fan-favorite "Drive To You," to the beautiful "Words Get In The Way" and the sugary sweet delight "Where You Are," this disc is far more enjoyable and engaging than any of its predecessors. Sure, it has its missteps as evident in the long slow slide that is "Long Slow Slide," but the remainder of Jewel's new record is strong, consistent and highly entertaining.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 125
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