What? No Norah Jones New CD Thread?

Well why, if Eva Cassidy, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin are to be considered "excellent" blues vocalists, then not Norah Jones too? Uh, thanks but no thanks, I'll stick with the real -- meaning black, just in case there was any doubt -- blues singers, and ya'll can have your skinny-voice, no-soul havin' white chicks...

There was an interesting article in the NYTimes about her a couple weeks ago. Apparently, rather than living the life of a diva, she is very 'downtown,' hangs in local clubs without fanfare, and is a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal. (Or her publicist is good enough to create that impression).
It is the constant dilemma though, isn't it? Great sonics = very lackluster performances; brilliant performances on mediocre recordings.
I have her big hit album on vinyl and though it has nice sonics, and she has a good voice, I rarely play it.

On the other hand, most of my Etta James records are not extraordinary recordings, as such, but I play those much more often (and take the trouble to see her in concert).

White chicks without soul- hmmm, Linda Rondstat, Mariah Carey;
Joplin- the stuff with Big Brother & Co. is still amazing to me.

Whart: Not that it sounds like a modern 'audiophile' type recording by any means -- and is all the better for it IMO -- but to me the original vinyl of Etta's "At Last" LP on Argo has wonderful sound. (As for Janis, I feel her most effective performances are generally her least histrionic, which mostly means post-BB&THC and not overwrought efforts at singing the blues, but I'd take her out-of-controlness over Norah's somnolence if forced to choose...)

Just purchased and am listening to 'Peter Malick Group featuring Norah Jones - New York City.' More than half way through and I'm still awake. That is very positive.