Rickie Lee Jones

Flying Cowboys' simultaneously bears the distinctive mark of Rickie Lee Jones's wild,
unruly talent and continues the steady process by which her art is achieving a stunning,
mature force. While it explores a wealth of themes and musical styles, the album unfolds
with the ongoing grace of one long song. What provides unity to the album's varied
elements is its seductive rhythmic flow, the down-home surrealism of Jones's lyr... More >

She's got her feet on the ground, with a warm simple song about motherhood and a cracked blues about addiction the signposts, but everywhere there are images of flight--as something heroes do, as something she used to do, as something she still can do in her mind. For anyone who never bought her effusions, the music is an advance--grounded as well, from studio-rock four to white-reggae depth charge to the guitars and synths of that blues. Problem is, it rarely flies--which with her more effusive lyrics leaves her not adrift, just nowhere. (Grade: B)