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Customer Reviews of The Well

Let the Celebrations Begin!
It seems like a century since we have had a new album from Jennifer Warnes. (In fact, her last album was in the last century, released in 1992...) After a too-long wait, caused apparently by short-sighted record labels, Jennifer Warnes returns with The Well. And what a return it is. She has gone to the well, and has not come back empty-handed.
The entire album is simply amazing, and a worthy successor to her last album (The Hunter). Some standouts on the album:
- Too Late Love Comes: a strong Gaelic atmosphere. She opens acapello (am I the only one who likes to hear her *breathe*?) and then is joined by pipes, violins, mandolin.
- Invitation to the Blues: bluesy, moody, full of longing.
- And So It Goes: if Billy Joel didn't write this song specifically for Jennifer to sing, he should have.
- The Panther: outstanding use of percussion to set the mood. One feels that one is in Louisiana on a hot and humid night, with a panther is sloping through the fog.
- You Don't Know Me: an Eddy Arnold standard, reset to a jazz-like mood, a great duet.
- Patriot's Dream: Jennifer sings this Arlo Guthrie song, with accompaniment by Arlo Guthrie. This song reminds us of the blessing of being American, and the responsibility we have to keep the dream alive.
Let us hope that this new album is the first of many for the 21st century from Jennifer Warnes.

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An exquisite recording! Welcome back, Jennifer!
Jennifer Warnes, like many other great female artists, has been consistently underrated by the music industry and the public at large since her debut in the 1970s. She's charted only two Top Ten solo records, and is (sadly enough) best remembered for her radio-friendly duets "Up Where We Belong" and "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life." Commercial success rarely mirrors an artist's integrity or talent, and Warnes has seemingly always been held back by that unfair truth. Much like her 1986 album "Famous Blue Raincoat," Warnes' current release "The Well" is a largely understated, painstakingly crafted, and remarkable recording. Warnes' voice is as wonderful and expressive as ever, and the song choices are bold and intriguing...and moreover, the entire album is cohesive and consistent without becoming belaboring or boring. Is this CD Warnes' masterwork? That is impossible to say, because "Famous Blue Raincoat" is a recording in a class all by itself. Still, "The Well" has all the makings for an artist's masterpiece. I urge music-lovers to check this recording out. It is simply wonderful.

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Very disappointing.
First the context: I LOVED "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "The Hunter." I have bought multiple copies for gifts; I've ripped them; I've taped them. They are awesome. So imagine my delight when I saw that this one was released. Bought it immediately; paid extra for the fast shipping so that I could take it on an upcoming road trip.

Guess what? I am leaving it at home.

There is nothing of the fabulous vocalizations I have been accustomed to. Yes, J. W. has a lovely voice but there is no edge, none of the creativity that leaps out at you in the Hunter.

Finally, why on earth would Warnes cover "An Invitation to the Blues"? This is a song that should be sung by a gravelly-voiced man who is on the skids, not by a sweet happy voice. Try this experiment -- buy a copy of Waits' "Small Change" (you will never regret this purchase). Listen to Tom sing this song then listen to the cover on this CD. Waits' version is amazing, touching, beautiful; Warnes' version is pretty. Damn, it is not a pretty song.

Sorry to be so down on this. I really wanted to love it. I just can't.