Freewheelin' Woman

Released in 2022, Freewheelin' Woman represents a significant stylistic shift for Jewel, moving away from the Americana and country-folk of her previous decade toward a sophisticated blend of pop, soul, and R&B. Produced by Butch Hogan, the album was recorded with a focus on live-in-studio energy, aiming to capture the 'groove' that Jewel felt was missing from her more clinical recordings. The record features collaborations with Train's Pat Monahan and a heavy influence from the soulful sounds of the 1960s and 70s. Critics, particularly from AllMusic, noted the album's polished production and Jewel's impressive vocal command, highlighting it as one of her most cohesive and musically ambitious projects in years. It stands as a 'veteran' album - one that prioritizes musicality and vocal performance over the raw, diary-entry style of her 90s debut, positioning her as a versatile pop-soul chanteuse.