Packed with 45 tracks and two full concerts on two separate DVDs, Jewel’s Essential Live Songbook fulfills all desires of the diehard fan. A hybrid of country, folk and pop with a little bit of yodel thrown in for good measure, Jewel, known for growing up on a homestead in Alaska and for living in her car for a spell, always brings more than the usual amount of soul to the Top 40.

This collection of songs showcases Jewel’s storytelling and songwriting abilities. In an interview on the DVD, Jewel says, “I loved authors that told the truth on themselves.”

The apparent ease with which Jewel opens her heart to her fans, with lyrics that often feel ripped directly from her journal, does a lot to explain her enduring popularity over the last 13 years. Her first album, Pieces of You, became one of the best-selling debut CDs ever.

Grade: A

The Essential Live Songbook is currently available.