Album: Ballads

Introduction
"Ballads" is a 2017 studio album by American singer-songwriter Paula Cole. Launched on August 11, 2017, the album makes up 20 jazz and folk covers and original "ballads" that showcase Cole's rich and powerful vocals. It is an enthusiastic task that demonstrates her flexibility and ability to provide new life to classic songs. The album is a departure from her previous works, diving more in the world of standard jazz, folk, and blues, shedding a brand-new light on the Grammy Award-winning singer best known for her pop strikes, "I Don't Want to Wait" and "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?".

Production and Release
"Ballads" was produced by Cole herself and Steve Rodby, a distinguished American bassist understood for his work with The Pat Metheny Group. Cole took up crowdfunding to fund the making of the album, which eventually raised over $75,000 through Kickstarter. The album was launched under her independent label 675 Records, which she previously introduced in 2013. The outstanding line-up of musicians on the album includes Ross Traut (guitar), Kevin Barry (guitar), Ben Wittman (drums), and Rebecca Parris (vocals), among many others. The album's track list is a mix of original songs, jazz standards, and even her performance of Bob Dylan's "The Ballad of Hollis Brown".

Album Highlights
"Ballads" opens with "God Bless the Child", a Billie Holiday classic. Cole's skillful analysis of this song sets a warm and sentimental tone for the remainder of the album. The album proceeds with "When I Look in Your Eyes", a minimalistic yet compelling performance of Johnny Mercer's hit. "Lazy Afternoon" allows Cole's voice to shine, as she picks to choose a more sultry and sluggish technique. A noteworthy mention is "Blame It on My Youth", where she plays the piano; her tender rendition of the song epitomizes the album's theme, and it highlights her prowess as an artist.

An unanticipated yet remarkable track in this album is Cole's cover of Bob Dylan's "The Ballad of Hollis Brown". Whether it is her emotive and effective storytelling or the haunting arrangement, it ranks as one of the very best tracks on the album. Surprisingly, the album includes two tunes sung in French-- "Autumn Leaves" by Joseph Kosma and "What a Beautiful World" by Thiele/ Weiss, showcasing Cole's linguistic flexibility. "Ballads" closes with "Twilight", an intimate piece Cole sings alone while playing the piano, ending the album on a note of reflection and intimacy.

Critical Reception and Accolades
"Ballads" gotten primarily positive reviews and was critically well-known for its outstanding amalgamation of American popular songs encountering four centuries. DownBeat Magazine called it a "stunning" album, mentioning her large musical and emotional range as well as the rejuvenating plans of each track. Other critics stressed her flexibility and reliability, praising the huge series of stylistic and psychological ground covered on the album. In general, "Ballads" provides a chance to view Paula Cole in a new light, as an extremely skilled and emotive singer, and a devoted lover of the vast American musical repertoire.