Norah Jones' Country Side Project: The Little Willies

{Photo thanks to Last.fm}

 How can I explain Norah Jones? She's like Natalie Portman or Alicia Keys.  Or Daniel Day Lewis for that matter. Her artistic skill and talent--genius even--is no longer up for debate; it's been established as fact and even if you're not a fan, you can't say she sucks.  Because you'd be wrong.  Her debut album Come Away With Me went diamond for selling over 20 million copies.  I didn't even know diamond was a thing! Anyway, my point is when you're Norah Jones, you're kind of given carte blanche to do whatever little side projects and random acting roles (Wong Kar-Wai's My Blueberry Nights anyone?) your heart desires. 

{Photo thanks to EMI Music}

Enter The Little Willies--Norah Jones' country music side project, named after her childhood hero Willie Nelson.  She actually created the Willies in 2003 but obvi it was overshadowed by everyone still obsessing over Don't Know Why and the fact that she's Ravi Shankar's daughter.  But did you know Norah Jones is from Texas? And she grew up on Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, and the whole shebang until she became a higher educated jazz snob and well, you know the rest.  But as she said to the New York Times, "I had to leave home...to know how much country music meant to me."  Didn't we all, Norah?  Didn't we all.

The Little Willies' sophomore album, For the Good Times hits stores tomorrow, and like the self-titled debut record, this one features more country covers including Dolly Parton's Jolene (you just peed your pants a little, didn't you?) Johnny Cash's Wide Open Road, and the title track originally by Kris Kristofferson.  And when there's something awesome, NPR is not too far behind, with the entire album on their site for your free listening pleasure! You guys, I heard the first three notes of the first track of this record and FLIPPED OUT. So yeah, you're welcome.