The laid-back, lonesome sound of Norah Jones

The mega-success of Norah Jones' breathy, seductive, but somehow innocently self-reflective voice took everyone by surprise a few years ago, including her record company and Jones herself. Now that the market is flooded with imitators, Jones, daughter of the great Indian musician Ravi Shankar, sounds even better. Though her lazy, country-inflected tempos can get tiresome, Jones' new album, "Not Too Late," which debuted at No. 1 and has sold more than 2 million copies, features all her own material. It's a world of sadness and yearning — with a couple of political shots tossed in, as well — but you'll be glad you shared a tear with her.

— Paul de Barros, Seattle Times jazz critic