Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts

4/5

Ten years after her award winning debut, Norah Jones has released an album that is a polar opposite of the love filled Come Away with Me. Little Broken Hearts is a collection of ballads and pop sprinkled stories of betrayal, heartbreak and revenge smothered in Jones’ husky tones. Teeming up with Danger Mouse, who produced and co-wrote the album, has brought a retro edge to the simple but appealing song writing Jones is famous for.

Opening with a music-box melody “Good Morning”, the gentle guitar strums and light piano with Jones’ sultry vocals could easily lull the listener into thinking this will be a sweetheart’s album. There are pop tracks like “Say Goodbye”, “Out on the Road” & “Happy Pills”, songs which speak more to the themes of freedom & moving on, but the mood is mellow and brooding throughout the 12 tracks. Stripped back guitars keep it simple as Jones muses ‘Does she make you happy?’ in the jaded “She’s 22”. All the sweetness of Jones’ previous love struck ballads is turned on its head in “Miriam”, a haunting ode to an adulteress. Jones does not mince words as her sweetly sings “…when I watch you die”.

A perfect mix of straightforward guitar riffs, brash symbols, tinkling piano keys and Norah Jones trademark voice makes Little Broken Hearts a beautiful dark lullaby.

+Kim Gallagher