Released 20 years ago
Close to a Miracle
Heather Small · 2006
49 min · 12 tracks · pop music
Uplifting pop and soul melodies intertwine with heartfelt lyrics, creating an empowering anthem for resilience and love.
Top tracks — play these first
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Close to a Miracle — This title track encapsulates the album's themes of hope and transformation through soaring vocals and anthemic instrumentation, making it a standout moment.
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Rise Up — With its motivational lyrics and driving rhythm, this track serves as a powerful call to action, embodying the spirit of resilience that permeates the album.
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Everything's Alright — This song pairs gentle melodies with comforting lyrics, presenting a moment of solace that contrasts beautifully with the more energetic tracks on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features solid songwriting and production but lacks standout moments that elevate it beyond its genre.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track introduces a more upbeat rhythm.
- Several songs feature layered vocal harmonies that build on Small's lead vocals, enhancing the emotional impact of the lyrics.
- The album closes with two tracks that emphasize themes of resilience, gradually slowing down to a reflective tone.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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
- uplifting anthems for motivation
- heartfelt ballads for reflection
- feel-good vibes for gatherings
- encouraging messages for tough times
Maybe skip if you
- prefer darker, more somber tones
- seek experimental or avant-garde sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2006, Close to a Miracle is Heather Small's first studio album after her time with the group M People, marking her transition into a solo career. This album followed her successful debut solo single, 'Proud,' which had established her as a prominent voice in British pop music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- M People· Lisa Stansfield· Jill Scott
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Radio On 4:18
- 2 Close to a Miracle 3:52
- 3 Rise Up 3:34
- 4 Today 4:51
- 5 Everything's Alright 4:25
- 6 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover 4:28
- 7 Finally Found My Way 3:20
- 8 Better Way 3:57
- 9 Crazy for You 4:05
- 10 Private Glory 4:34
- 11 Love Is Always There 3:20
- 12 Don't Give Up on Love 5:06
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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