Like a throwback to the music performed in a whiskey-soaked dance hall, the third record from Boston songwriter Eilen Jewell, Sea of Tears, is an honest narrative of a woman journeying in and out of love. She'll be bringing her tour to Rhode Island on June 4.

Released on April 21 through Signature Sounds, Jewell is more Dusty Springfield than Gillian Welch. Sea of Tears finds the artist acknowledging her electric influences and the roots of rock and roll on the album's twelve tracks. She pays homage to the British invasion of the sixties, bands like The Kinks and The Animals; her forlorn, yet confident, delivery matches slow rock and resonant guitar sounds throughout the record. Although nine of the tracks are Jewell originals, the entire album could easily have been recorded forty years earlier.

Sea of Tears has a smooth sliding pace that is punctuated by a chill of sharp guitar. The tone can be summarized in the words of "Shakin' All Over," a cover of Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' recording, where Jewell expertly explains the album's sound in the lyrics, "Quivers down the back bone...shakin' all over." The slow syncopation on the record hits the listener like ice water on a hot sunny day, unexpected but appreciated.

The album was recorded along with her touring band; a tried and true ensemble of Jewell, Jason Beek (drums, harmony vocals), Jerry Miller (electric, acoustic, and steel guitars), and Johnny Sciascia (upright bass). The rapport of years touring together along with the musical talent are album highlights; the support behind Jewell's vocals augments her confident presentation and lets her heartfelt lyrics stand out against the backdrop. The four musicians merge to produce a tight swagger that cascades through the album.

Stated as the album opens, "There's only one constant in this whole world, that's nothing ever stays the same." Jewell references mortality in the song, but the sentiment can be applied to her dynamic musical style. Eilen Jewell is a multi-faceted artist whose previous two records, Boundary County (self-released, 2006) and Letters from Sinners and Strangers (Signature Sounds, 2007) received national attention for their crisp, organic feel.

After the release in April, Eilen and her band will tour up and down the East coast in some of the nation's most well known venues; touring in support of the record, Jewell will transform the stage around her into a performance arena of the 1950s and 1960s. From Vermont to North Carolina, Jewell and her band will captivate listeners with her timeless narratives all over the country.

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Early Praise for Eilen Jewell:

"...One of the best up-and-coming women on the scene these days." - Kim Ruehl, About.com Folk Music

"...Interpretation is just one of Eilen Jewell's many musical gifts. Fortunately she has chosen to share them all in abundance on this vital, and in-valuable, new recording." - Mike Jurkovic, Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange

"...This record successfully connects the dots between Billie Holliday, Madeline Peyroux, and Gillian Welch, and it's just irresistible." - Stuart Mason, Fiddlefreak Folk Music Blog

"Eilen Jewell's Sea of Tears has the feel of a breakout record... [Jewell] has built an avid following with three rootsy recordings teeming with songs that sound born of speakeasies and honky-tonks and train rides, all without--and this is the truly impressive part--a whiff of contrivance." - Rick Cornell, Independent Weekly

"Eilen and the band...has brought old-timey folk music out of the past and into the present. This little sidetrip back 40 years is well recommended." - Modern Acoustic

Upcoming Tour Dates:

5/08/2009 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse

5/09/2009 - Arlington, VA - IOTA Club and Cafe

5/12/2009 - Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse

5/13/2009 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic

5/14/2009 - Jacksonville, FL - European Street Listening Room

5/16/2009 - Ybor City, Tampa, FL - Tropical Heat Wave

5/19/2009 - Fort Worth, TX - The Fairmount

5/21/2009 - Albuquerque, NM - Out To Lunch

5/23/2009 - Sonora, CA - Strawberry Music Festival

5/26/2009 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Crepe Place

5/27/2009 - Santa Rosa, CA - Last Day Saloon

5/29/2009 - Boise, ID - The Grizzly Rose

5/30/2009 - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room

6/04/2009 - Westerly, RI - The Knickerbocker Cafe

6/05/2009 - Somerville, MA - The Precinct

6/06/2009 - Ithaca, NY - The Rongovian Embassy

6/11/2009 - St. Louis, MO - Twangfest

6/20/2009 - Millville, NJ - Southern Shore Music Festival

6/21/2009 - Freehold, NJ - Concerts in the Studio

6/26/2009 - Piermont, NY - The Turning Point

7/10/2009 - Pomeroy, OH - Rhythm on The River

7/17/2009 - Greenfield, MA - Green River Festival

7/18/2009 - Middletown, CT - Center for the Arts/Wesleyan University

7/22/2009 - Lake George, NY - Summer Concert Series

7/24/2009 - Annapolis, MD - Ram's Head

7/25/2009 - Alexandria, VA - Birchmere

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