Little Broken Hearts
Norah Jones · 2012
55 min · 15 tracks · blues
A haunting blend of jazz-inflected melodies and introspective lyrics that explore heartache and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
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Good Morning Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Little Broken Hearts — The title track encapsulates the album's emotional core, weaving together sorrowful melodies with vivid storytelling about love lost and healing.
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Happy Pills — This track stands out for its upbeat tempo contrasting the melancholy lyrics, cleverly reflecting the duality of seeking happiness amidst pain.
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Miriam — In 'Miriam,' Jones employs a narrative style to depict jealousy and betrayal, revealing her capacity for rich character-driven songwriting.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines introspective lyrics with layered instrumentation, creating a cohesive yet varied listening experience.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a slow, reflective mood with sparse instrumentation, gradually introducing more layers in subsequent songs.
- The album closes with two tracks that shift the tone slightly, incorporating a more upbeat tempo and brighter melodies.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- 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
- steady, consistent energy levels
- gradual builds and payoffs
- late-night contemplative moods
- layered, dense sonic textures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Represents a mature sound with introspective themes, showcasing artistic growth.
- Themes
- heartbreak narratives· post-breakup resilience· jealousy and betrayal
- Career context
- Released on May 1, 2012, Little Broken Hearts marked Norah Jones' fifth studio album. This record came after her commercially successful album, The Fall (2009), showcasing a more mature sound as she navigated personal and artistic growth post-breakup with producer Brian Blade.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Madeleine Peyroux· Diana Krall· Sarah Jarosz
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Good Morning Start here 3:17
- 2 Say Goodbye 3:27
- 3 Little Broken Hearts 3:12
- 4 She’s 22 3:10
- 5 Take It Back 4:06
- 6 After the Fall 3:42
- 7 4 Broken Hearts 2:59
- 8 Travelin’ On 3:06
- 9 Out on the Road 3:28
- 10 Happy Pills 3:34
- 11 Miriam 4:25
- 12 All a Dream 6:29
Disc 2
- 1 I Don’t Wanna Hear Another Sound 3:33
- 2 Killing Time 3:41
- 3 Out on the Road (Mondo version) 3:20
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Songs of Love and Hate
Leonard Cohen
Explores deep emotional landscapes with a haunting, introspective lyrical style.
Born to Die
Lana Del Rey
Shares themes of heartbreak and melancholy with lush, atmospheric production.
Metals
Feist
Combines intimate storytelling and rich instrumentation, reflecting on heartache and resilience.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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