Review
Jennifer Paige's "Positively Somewhere" arrived in 2001 as her second studio album, encapsulating her transformation as an artist and offering a more nuanced layer to her musical narrative. The record steps away from the pop simplicity of her debut and its smash hit "Crush," aiming instead for a sound imbued with sophistication and maturity. This pursuit of depth can be heard not just in the evolving sonics but also in Paige's songwriting, which unfurls across the album with newfound confidence. The title, borrowed from the lyrics of her cover of "These Days" by Bardot, signals an undercurrent of hope and resilience that Paige embraces both personally and musically.
Venturing beyond her own writing, Paige also puts her spin on an array of covers, honoring the original artists while threading her unique vocal texture throughout. Her choices range from Plumb to Don Philip, reimagined through Paige's emotive delivery. In this album, her collaboration with producers and songwriters, including the likes of Andy Goldmark and Lars Halvor Jensen, is a bold statement of her willingness to amalgamate diverse influences and styles. Despite receiving a warm reception in Europe and Asia, "Positively Somewhere" encountered obstacles in the United States due to limited promotion. Nonetheless, the album stands as a clear marker of Jennifer Paige's artistry and potential, holding a special place among her work. - Stephanie
