Five people and a voice. That's the kind of sparse sound Jewel wanted to craft when she came to Nashville to make Perfectly Clear, her seventh career record (and fourth album recorded in Nashville). The result is just that: nothing that overcomplicates her self-penned stories. With John Rich by her side, Jewel produced 10 songs in two days. They put their trust in the strength of her voice. You won't hear guitar overdubs or walls of layered music- just Jewel's angelic voice and enough instrumentation to back it. "I've been talking about doing a country record since my second Rolling Stone magazine cover in 1999," says Jewel. "Six albums and a new record label later- I finally get the opportunity!"

Perfectly Clear, Cut-By-Cut:

"Stronger Woman"
(Jewel, Marv Green)
Jewel wrote this song for a friend who was going through a rough patch in a relationship. Opening with a simple acoustic guitar, the melody complements Jewel's heartfelt vocals. "It's not a male-bashing song" says Jewel, "rather a reminder that women have the strength within to find the happiness they deserve in life."

"I Do"
(Jewel)
Should we or shouldn't we? This song is a story of love at a crossroads, where a couple is deciding to form a union and live out their lives together. Jewel's signature breathy vocals are accented with long-bow fiddling and down-to-earth guitar. Influenced by the way Cole Porter could take a turn of phrase and make the story take a different road, Jewel called writing this song a creative adventure. "My songwriting approach is different with every song, especially when I write alone, as I did with this song. I'm always surprised and interested to see where the story goes," she says.

"Love is a Garden"
(Jewel, Shaye Smith)
"This is a song that would have fit in well with my previous records," says Jewel. The tune has a pleading essence, but with a hopeful message for anyone whose love needs a wake-up call. "This one really has my quirky style of songwriting on it," Jewel admits.

"Rosey & Mick"
(Jewel)
Songs about older couples usually end up with them still crazy in love after all those years. Not this rough-around-the-edges banjo-fueled rocker. These folks are lushes who drink way too much, and have a relationship that is way too volatile. It's a short story without a happy ending. "It's like reading a book in your head where you have to turn the page to see what happens," Jewel says of composing the song. "I have always been influenced by literature and often it finds its way into my music." The song was written in 2000, and if the bootlegging of this Jewel gem is any indication, her fans love a sad, sad story.

"Anyone But You"
(Jewel, Wynn Varble)
Growing up on Tammy Wynette albums, Jewel was determined to write a traditional country ballad worthy of her influences. Something old-timey, full of bittersweet lyrics about regret. "As far as vocally challenging songs- this one is one of the toughest on the record," Jewel comments. "But it's also one of my favorites."

"Thump Thump"
(Jewel)
Country legend John Prine has a way of saying profound things in a humorous way. Jewel has done something equally whimsical this time around, with a sweetness that catches one off guard. She calls it her own hodge podge of sounds. "When we were producing this song, balancing the soft vocals and driving instrumentation was the goal," says Jewel.

"Two Become One"
(Jewel, Guy Chambers)
All those things you wish you could say when you're watching you lover sleeping, that's the winsome poetry Jewel captures in this tune. The song actually appeared on Jewel's "0304" album, after she wrote the original in England. "I really wanted to recut this song for the new album because at its core, it's a country song," she says. The instruments build and Jewels vocals stay pure to give this one a classic country-pop structure.

"'Til It Feels Like Cheating"
(Lisa Carver, Liz Rose)
This song marks the first time in Jewel's career she recorded a song she didn't write. Co- producer John Rich ran across this powerful country song that really blew them both away and so they decided to record it. "The concept of this song is unique- it's about having an affair with your own husband," says Jewel. "The writers did an amazing job with this tune. I'm thrilled to have it on my record."

"Everything Reminds Me of You"
(Jewel, Joel Firstman)
The pain of a break-up is tough enough. But when everything you see or hear reminds you of him, that cuts even deeper. Jewel and her friend, singer/songwriter Joe Firstman, put that feeling on paper to create an expressive ballad about getting used to painful memories. You can hear the conviction in Jewel's voice throughout this tune.

"Loved By You (Cowboy Waltz)"
(Jewel)
Jewel wrote this song for her dad, who she credits for inspiring her to revisit the cowboy music of her youth. Raised on a remote ranch in Alaska by her father, "this song recalls the fondest memories of my youth- sitting around open camp fires and listening to my dad's cowboy poetry and music," Jewel says. This is the first time she yodels on a record, a skill her father taught her at the age of six years old.

"Perfectly Clear"
(Jewel)
Whenever she's writing a song, Jewel asks herself if it's a song her heroes would like if they heard it. Like Bob Dylan, or Merle Haggard. On this title track she put together words in her quintessential style to create her flagship country song. Adding a little jazz trio with an upright bass, a piano and a shuffle gives it a progression through the melodies that suits the song perfectly. "This song takes place in a single moment," says Jewel. "I wrote this song when I was 18 years old and I've always been proud of this lyric. I'm so happy it finally made a record."