Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (2002)

[Album 15/1001]

I’m hesitant to compliment an artist by saying, “you make beautiful background music.” 

I fear it’s a bit like saying, “Thanks for the bottle of wine.  It’ll be great for cooking with!”

Norah’s 2002 debut is tough to classify: is it jazz, soul, pop, or a little bit country/folk? Whatever its genre, it’s terrific.

Her voice isn’t really fancy or overly powerful but it’s perfectly suited to the fourteen songs.  Very pleasant, appropriately sparse piano throughout and I quite like the guitar on Seven Years.

The singles, Come Away With Me and Don’t Know Why are the standouts, though standout is a misnomer; the album flows peacefully from start to finish.

Norah Jones, you make beautiful background music.  No backhanded compliment intended.