Norah Jones has just released a new full-length album titled “Visions.” This album is full of smooth and relaxing tracks that come together in a blend of many different genres - too many to count, actually. Norah Jones has always delivered soothing songs that are low-key but never low effort. You can always tell she puts a lot of thought and effort into her tracks, constructing and changing her sound. "Visions" has a lot of interesting little things happening in the background of most songs: synths, birdsong, ethereal arpeggios. It is not always easy to pick out a favorite, but on this album, my personal favorite track is “On My Way.” It has so many gorgeous sounds and interesting little vocal things going on. Then the ending, where it slowly blends the voice with a mellotron and the mellotron gets to finish, is just great.

The songs come together and make a very reliable album. Not one track feels out of place or messes with the mood. Sometimes, music snobs (like me) will complain that people listen less to the whole album these days. I think this is due to a bunch of different reasons, but one might be that albums are less reliable when it comes to setting the mood. On a lot of occasions, you are looking for one song that fits that certain mood, where the next track on the album might be something entirely different. Listening to the whole album demands you completely put yourself in the hands of the artists and say, “alright just give me whatever.” Here is my point: "Visions" has the same feeling throughout. You know at some point you might have met a family and seen the family members behave so differently from each other that you thought, how in the world are you guys even related? Sometimes, however, you might meet a family and see them all reflected in each other, behaving like they are one and the same. I think "Visions" is the latter. You might ask, if the songs are family members then what does that make Norah Jones? The grandmother? I don’t know. This analogy does not go that far.

If you like "Visions," you might also like an album such as “Scenery” by Emily King. Let us look at some of the adjectives used to describe the album. These come from a mix of my own opinion and internet opinions: clear, light, reliable, tumbling, loose, easy listening, laid back, smooth, and intimate. It is often hard to find words to describe a whole album, but in the case for "Visions," it actually works, because the tracks go together so well. I hope the world responds to "Visions" by Norah Jones. It is hard to say exactly what the outcome will be. I think there is a track on here for everyone; you just have to find the right time. Probably something having to do with dim lights and lit candles. Go and have a listen!

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!