Eilen Jewell

There’s more to Eilen Jewell than meets the eye. National Public Radio, on its listing for Song of the Day, says, “She’s got a sweet and clear voice with a killer instinct lurking beneath the shiny surface.” USA Today describes her as “Dark and haunting, but alluring just the same . . . Give me more of that voice.” Her voice certainly stays with you, a captivating blend of wild and under control. Her music encompasses a wide range of traditions, from the folk and jug band leanings of her first few albums, to the vintage country stylings of her Loretta Lynn tribute, to gospel, garage rock, and Chicago blues. Her latest album, Queen of the Minor Key, features 14 originals, ranging from torch songs to roadhouse rockers. The website allmusic calls the album “a reminder that this music at its best speaks to the wayward impulses of the human heart, and Eilen Jewell embodies that quiet, insistent voice as well as anyone making music in the 21st century.”