Precious Stone
When I first started writing this Groove Line column several years ago, one of the first musical artist I wrote about was Jem, the Welsh born singer who made a splash in 2004 with her debut album Finally Woken and the hit single "They," which appeared on the television show The O.C. Well, she's back with her sophomore effort Down To Earth and I'm glad to report that my initial enthusiasm for Jem four years ago has been renewed with this 12-track effort that's filled with ethereal vocals, hip-shaking beats, bright melodies, and introspective lyrics. Her first single from the album, "It's Amazing," was featured on the soundtrack for the Sex & The City movie this past summer, while "Aciiid!" is a lively dance-pop track that should appeal to electronica fans who find favor with the likes of The Prodigy. A well-crafted album, Down To Earth is a wide-ranging album that ably demonstrates Jem's wide-ranging style and proof that she's just at the beginning of what is sure to be a long and fruitful career.