Album: Pick Me Up Off the Floor

Overview
"Pick Me Up Off the Floor" is the seventh studio album released by jazz vocalist and pianist, Norah Jones, on June 12, 2020, under the label Blue Note Records. The album is produced by Jones herself, together with James Gadson, Brian Blade, and a team of talented artists. Covering throughout 11 tracks, "Pick Me Up Off the Floor" sees Jones weaving together a collection of emotional, climatic ballads and jazz-tinged tunes that have actually been referred to as a few of her most extensive and individual work to date. The record is the culmination of songs that did not discover a place on her previous jobs, yet felt complete in their own right.

Background and Inspiration
The creative procedure for "Pick Me Up Off the Floor" originated from Jones' previous project, "Begin Again", an album of songs launched in 2019. The sessions from these partnerships with different musicians and songwriters resulted in unexpectedly prolific imaginative spells. There were a number of songs that did not fit the mold of the previous album however still had a strong connection with Jones.

In spite of the songs being a collection of B-sides and outtakes, Jones was able to weave a cohesive narrative throughout the album, motivated by styles of love, heartache, durability, and redemption. In a time of political and social turmoil, the record, in Jones' words, "formed a total thought since they all came out of me at the exact same time, and they were this batch that fit together so magically".

Style and Composition
"Pick Me Up Off the Floor" sees Jones using her trademark mix of jazz, pop, and folk music while exploring new speculative areas. The record features a mix of several musical designs and affects, from the melancholic ballads similar to classic jazz to modern pop and elegant soul.

Jones' superb pianism functions as the foundation of the album, surrounded by mesmerizing arrangements and lush instrumentation. Strings, horns, and a Hammond organ emerge throughout, accompanying Jones' sultry, soothing vocals. "Pick Me Up Off the Floor" showcases Jones as a musician with an inherent ability to captivate listeners with sincere melodies and deeply introspective lyrics.

Emphasizes and Reception
"Pick Me Up Off the Floor" got prevalent praise from critics, with lots of admiring Jones' intimate songwriting, emotional vocals, and musical versatility. The lead single "I'm Alive" (co-written with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco) sets the tone for the album, resolving the existing state of the world and the resilience required to prevail over individual battles.

Other standout tracks consist of "How I Weep", a haunting, reflective ballad, and "Hurts to Be Alone", a dreamy and ethereal song about the despair of separation. "Flame Twin" showcases a darker and more experimental side to Jones' noise, while "Say No More" is an ode to longing and unspoken feelings.

Moreover, "To Live" is an understated and beautiful testimony to the easy charms of life, even in the face of misfortune. The album's closing track, "Heaven Above", is a cinematic and uplifting piano-driven number that leaves the listeners with a feeling of peaceful harmony.

In conclusion, "Pick Me Up Off the Floor" seals Norah Jones' status as a musical force to be considered. Through her transformative journey throughout the years as a singer-songwriter, Norah Jones has actually crafted a deeply emotive and enchanting record that showcases her unparalleled versatility and artistry.