TORONTO -- She would have had them with a yodel.

Instead, multi-platinum folk-pop singer Jewel took a strange and circuitous route to satisfying 4,000 fans at the Air Canada Centre's Sears Theatre last night.

It's been two years since the 25-year-old singer-songwriter, who's known for her Homer, Alaska-bred yodelling skills, visited Toronto but not that much has changed in terms of her unpredictable stage demeanor.

Backed by a slick, five-piece band including former beau and opening act Steve Poltz on acoustic guitar, Jewel opened the evening promisingly.

Dressed sexily in a cleavage-revealing, skimpy black tank top, long bright pink skirt with matching head scarf holding back her long, blond hair, and black-and-green-high heels, Jewel initially exuded more polish and confidence than her mistake-and-rambling-banter-ridden visit to the DanforthMusic Hall in 1997.

It probably helped that she had stronger material to work with this time out -- What's Simple Is True, Jupiter, Barcelona, Life Uncommon and Down So Long -- from her second release, 1998's Spirit, in addition to songs from her breakthrough album, 1995's Pieces Of You.

But the momentum broke down temporarily about half way through the two-hour-show when Jewel -- left alone on the stage by her band -- complained: "I don't feel like playing songs off my album."

Now given this was her first appearance here since releasing Spirit, that seemed like a pretty odd thing to say.

Then there was her excruciatingly long story about a whale-watching-trip-turned-drug-bust (don't even ask) that was supposedly a cute way to introduce her breakthrough hit, You Were Meant For Me, which she and Poltz managed to write after their big adventure.

The duo even sang the song together last night and I'm guessing it was a good breakup judging from their obvious fondess for each other.

(Jewel also appeared to have many male fans in the crowd, who continually yelled out: "I love you, Jewel!" and more suggestive declarations like wolf whistles.)

If only the singer could stay focused long enough to deliver her music in a more consistent way, she'd be a tough live act to beat.

When Jewel concentrated, she could belt out hair-raising notes, like a blues singer three times her age, particularly during Jupiter, Life Uncommon, Down So Long, Love Me Just Leave Me Alone -- a free-for-all new rocker which saw fans jump out of their seats and run down to the front of the stage -- and a funky, extended version of Who Will Save Your Soul.

Also good was the piano-accompanied Foolish Games, and her encore-ending yodel.

Too bad about the atmosphere-crushing poetry reading, albeit brief, after someone in the crowd offered up Jewel's book of poems to her.

I guess it was an offer she couldn't refuse.

JAM! Rating: 3 out of 5