What makes A Few Small Repairs by Shawn Colvin notable?

The album received critical acclaim and commercial success, peaking at number 24 on the Billboard 200 chart and earning Colvin another Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Its lead single, Sunny Came Home, became a signature song for Colvin and garnered significant airplay, contributing to the folk-pop revival of the late '90s. Released in 1996, A Few Small Repairs was Shawn Colvin's third studio album, following her Grammy-winning effort, Sunny Came Home. This album marked a significant moment in her career, showcasing her evolution as a songwriter and solidifying her place in the contemporary folk scene.

Who is A Few Small Repairs for?

A Few Small Repairs works well if you're into steady, consistent energy levels, long, immersive listening sessions and introspective lyrical exploration.

How many songs are on A Few Small Repairs?

A Few Small Repairs has 13 tracks, running approximately 54 minutes.

Released 30 years ago

A Few Small Repairs

Shawn Colvin · 1996

54 min · 13 tracks · rock music

A blend of introspective folk-rock melodies and poignant storytelling that captures the complexities of personal relationships.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Sunny Came Home — As the album's lead single, this track encapsulates Colvin's lyrical craftsmanship through its vivid imagery of resilience and personal transformation.
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Get Out of This House — This song stands out with its haunting melody and themes of longing for escape, reflecting the emotional depth present throughout the album.
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If I Were Brave — This track highlights Colvin's introspective songwriting style, exploring themes of courage and self-discovery with a delicate yet powerful arrangement.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

61 /100

Treeline

Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

The album features strong songwriting and production but lacks a fully cohesive arc across all tracks.

What we noticed

The album opens with a strong lead single, 'Sunny Came Home', which sets a reflective tone that continues through the first half.
Tracks often feature layered instrumentation, with acoustic guitar and strings complementing Colvin's vocals, creating a rich soundscape.
Several songs incorporate shifts in dynamics, such as 'Get Out of This House', which builds intensity before dropping to quieter moments.
The final track, 'Nothin on Me', closes the album with a stripped-down arrangement, contrasting with the fuller sound of earlier tracks.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady, consistent energy levels
long, immersive listening sessions
introspective lyrical exploration
narrative-driven song progression

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 1996, A Few Small Repairs was Shawn Colvin's third studio album, following her Grammy-winning effort, Sunny Came Home. This album marked a significant moment in her career, showcasing her evolution as a songwriter and solidifying her place in the contemporary folk scene.
Stylistic neighbors: Mary Chapin Carpenter· Dar Williams· Joni Mitchell