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Tune in to the XPN Morning Show each Monday to hear, Host, Mike Vasilikos, review XPN's Featured Album of the Week. This week's album is....

Jem - Finally Woken (ATO)

Jem Griffiths hails from Cardiff, Wales - home of Tom Jones, and if you’re a fan of Beth Orton, Dido, or even The Sundays, and Everything But The Girl, you’ll appreciate Jem’s wonderful debut collection of pop-oriented and orchestrated beats.

While attending Sussex University in the mid 90’s, Jem’s passion for music led her to a behind-the-scenes involvement in club and festival promotion, which ultimately led to her creating her own music. One of a couple of key moments in Jem’s songwriting career came when she met Guy Sigsworth and they co-wrote “Nothing Fails” a tune that Madonna recorded on her American Life album. From there, Jem continued to write and record demos when they were brought to the attention of Dave Matthews’ ATO record label and she was signed.

Finally Woken is a fairly straightforward, almost simple collection of beat-heavy pop songs about love and the loss of it. Yet the attraction of the album lies in its unique simplicity, its immediate infectiousness and Jem’s sweet vocals. Some interesting samples are used on “Just A Ride,” “They,” and “Wish I,” and songs like “24” and “Flying High” represent Jem’s ability to rock out and mellow out with the best of them. Jem is one of 2004’s best new artists and Finally Woken is one of the best albums.8

Written by Bruce Warren.

Release Date: 3/23/2004

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