Norah Jones: Little Broken Hearts

Release Date: 05/01/12
Genre(s): Pop

Throw out any idea in your mind of what Norah Jones sounded like. Staples like like the mild, soulful "Don't Know Why," or the folksy, "Sunrise, Sunrise," should be far from your mind. If that's what you're looking for on Jones' latest effort, you're going to be sorely disappointed. Little Broken Hearts sounds nothing like Come Away with Me, or anything else Jones has put out before.

Just looking at the cover, you know to expect something different. Jones has chopped off her signature long, raven locks for a short, sassy bob. The girl on the cover sporting a killer pout and attitude to match shows you exactly what you're in for on this album. Every song is smart, sassy, and comes with an attitude. The production value is amazing, and you'd expect nothing less from Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton. Burton has reinvented Jones here.

From most of the lyrics, you'd gather that Jones went through quite the break up. After all, the album is called Little Broken Hearts. Most of the lyrics show the deep sorrow that can only be associated with a failed relationship. "Does she make you happy?" is the haunting question Jones asks in "She's 22," and in "Happy Pills" (the first single), Jones reflects, "With you gone I'm alone/Makes me feel like I took happy pills and time stands still." This is not exactly the sentimental romantic we've seen before.

The only negative thing I can say about this album is that it sounds like several of the indie singer/songwriters out there already. If you've heard Meiko or Lenka, then you have heard this type of sound before. It's new for Jones, and new for Danger Mouse, it's just not new to the music industry. That being said, Jones not only jumps into a new genre, but Danger Mouse produces it better than anyone has before. There's a reason he's been named the best producer in the decade (2000-2009), and there's a reason he's got 11 Grammys on his shelf. Jones picked the best collaborator available, and I'm sure they'll both be adding to that Grammy collection next February.

My verdict here: Go buy the album, and enjoy it for what it is. Just don't expect Jones to sit at the piano for 12 tracks and sing you a love song. That artist has fled the coop, and a much more intelligent, confident artist has come in her place. It's a beautiful album. Despite the heartbreaking lyrics, the melodies are incredibly upbeat. Little Broken Hearts is a ray of sunshine and a breath of fresh air for this growing musician.