On Not Too Late, Jones’ third album, cellos spell emotion, horns shadow rhythm & blues, and the rare drums suggest — more than lay down — a backbeat. Tempos, as usual, are resolutely mid, but this time out Jones varies her textures every so often: “Sinkin’ Soon,” a tune possibly about Katrina, exudes a New Orleans feel, complete with mandolin and guitjo. The political ambiguity continues with “Wish I Could,” which might be about Iraq — or war in general. Who knows? Jones is comfortably vague — passive-aggressive enough not to offend anyone.
Beautifully produced by boyfriend and bassist Lee Alexander, Not Too Late glides by like a summer afternoon and, like its two predecessors, rarely ruffles the feathers. Just about everything is nice in Jones’ subdued world, it seems — even when she tackles war and homelessness.
This article appears in Jan 31 – Feb 6, 2007.