TORONTO -- I like it when performers talk. To me, a singer should speak to the audience between songs, make them laugh, feel comfortable, remind them that a live show is different from just listening to the album at home. But at Saturday night's Jewel concert, for once I wished there was a whole lot less talking. The lovely blond singer/songwriter from Alaska played a solo acoustic set at Massey Hall in support of her latest record, 0304. Although the year-old disc is glossy dance pop, Jewel realizes that most of her fan base prefers her as a folk singer, not a Britney wannabe, and thus presented a quiet, no-frills concert. But what could have been a special, intimate performance was marred by constant, self-obsessed meandering. Opening with Near You Always from her 1995 breakout debut Pieces of You, the singer established that her voice itself is flawless like a diamond -- clear, bright, tough and showy -- even if she sometimes veered into diva gymnastics. Still, a woman who has released several poetry collections should be able to craft a better couplet than "your hands are in my hair/but your heart is in my teeth." On the positive side, A Boy Needs a Bike showcased her ability to weave compelling narratives, when she's not too busy talking about herself, which is rare indeed. As if singing about being a "blond bombshell" that can "sell you neat ideas without big words and a little cleavage to wash it all down" wasn't bad enough, she recounted a lengthy story about an encounter with Bob Dylan. Apparently, when he didn't hit on her (which she had dreamt about), Jewel concluded "he must be gay." Later, she bragged more about her good looks and fame by making fun of sweaty men who hug her at charity meet-and-greets. Of course, this was almost preferable to Jewel's more "serious" side. Her song Stand offered such in-depth social commentary as "mothers weep, children sleep, so much violence ends in silence." I almost wished she would start blabbering again. Almost. For those who actually adore the singer's self-centered shtick, the show was recorded and is available for sale at instantlive.com. If not, that's OK too: She likes herself enough for all of us.