...Little Broken Hearts by Norah Jones

Released:  May 1, 2012
Rating:  75.00
Genre:  Pop Jazz
First, this was produced (in addition to co-written and performed) by Dangermouse, aka Brian Burton.  Those that have followed by blog know my mantra: If Dangermouse is involved, buy it.  This album only reinforces that for me.

I get a real sense of two artists, strongly influenced by their own recent past, coming together to make something wholly different.  From Jones I hear a hint of her country side-project, the Little Willies, and lot from her last album, which she stated was influenced heavily by Tom Waits.  From Dangermouse comes parts of Broken Bells (his project with Shins vocalist James Mercer) and Rome, the Dangermouse/Danielle Luppi homage to the Spaghetti Western soundtracks.

Click the song titles to hear full length cuts via youtube:

• My favorite and the heavily Dangemouse influenced Say Goodbye performed live on Letterman.
• The smoky/sweet After The Fall, also live on Letterman
• The country/pop crossover, Happy Pills, the official video

A couple interesting notes/coincidences here:  Norah Jones first worked with Dangermouse only last year on Rome; On Rome, Jones split the vocals with Jack White; Jack White released his latest album only a week before this came out.  Finally, did you already know that Norah Jones' father is Ravi Shankar?  I didn't, but I think I should have.  (Do you know who Ravi Shankar is?)