Mr. Modern Country circa 2007, John Rich says he's totally amazed by Jewel. In fact, Rich called her "one of the greatest American singer/songwriters we've ever had."
Rich and Jewel are currently finishing up her new album, which is currently untitled. He says the record should be out by the end of the year and that there's a Nashville label-war currently being pitched in Jewel's honor.
This is the first time Rich has acted solely as the producer on a record and that's only because he couldn't quite latch onto Jewel's songwriting style.
"I tried to write with her and I couldn't even get to that spot in my head. She is such an intricately detailed, deep, multi-layered lyricist. It's mind-boggling, some of the stuff she writes. And her voice is just alien; nobody sounds like Jewel," Rich said.
I'll give him the vocals thing, but her lyrics, I'm not sold. Has the dude read A Night Without Armor?
Also, Rich will soon release a book with his partner in crime, Big Kenny, called Big & Rich: All Access. The book includes tons of pics, a DVD and 256-pages with some spice thrown in by country music writer, Allen Rucker. I shudder to think what might be in those pages.
