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Editorial Reviews
Stickered: Includes GET OUT OF THS HOUSE and SUNNY CAME HOME.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"A Few Small Repairs" has been Shawn Colvin's most successful album, and won her the coveted Grammy Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1998 with "Sunny Came Home", which was a Top 10 hit for her, and the album also received a Grammy nomination in '97, as well as one for Best Female Pop Vocal for "Get Out of This House".
It's a mellow, easy going collection of songs co-written by Shawn and producer John Leventhal, and the musicianship is excellent, with John also playing most of the instruments.
Shawn's voice is not strong, but has a charming quality to it, with a soft huskiness and warmth that makes this CD very pleasant listening; its main substance is in its lyrics, which have a raw toughness to them...little intimate stories wrapped up in a melody.
Favorites for me are "Get Out of This House", "The Facts About Jimmy", and the dreamy quality of "Wichita Skyline".
It was the fabulous cover art that caught my eye and the reason I picked this CD up...the exquisite painting is by one of America's most inspired artists, Julie Speed.
All the lyrics are printed in the fold-out insert, the sound is nice and clean, and total playing time is 51'24.
It's a mellow, easy going collection of songs co-written by Shawn and producer John Leventhal, and the musicianship is excellent, with John also playing most of the instruments.
Shawn's voice is not strong, but has a charming quality to it, with a soft huskiness and warmth that makes this CD very pleasant listening; its main substance is in its lyrics, which have a raw toughness to them...little intimate stories wrapped up in a melody.
Favorites for me are "Get Out of This House", "The Facts About Jimmy", and the dreamy quality of "Wichita Skyline".
It was the fabulous cover art that caught my eye and the reason I picked this CD up...the exquisite painting is by one of America's most inspired artists, Julie Speed.
All the lyrics are printed in the fold-out insert, the sound is nice and clean, and total playing time is 51'24.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Since I adored FAT CITY, I was quick to pick up this new tape, and immediately recognized "Sunny Came Home" from the radio. But the rest of the tape left me blank the first time I listened to it. With the exception of one or two songs it seemed depressing and musically blah. I was disappointed. However, I later found myself haunted by certain musical motifs and plays on words that I hadn't even realized I'd heard. I listened to it again, and then again. Now I listen to it every day, sometimes twice a day.
I love the absence of empty optimism-- there's nothing worse than listening to a banal, happy singer in a world where things rarely if ever go well. I also love her guts. This woman is something else-- a singer who knows that love hurts and life isn't sweet, but utterly rejects the comfortable morass of despair into which other singers seem to sink.
It's a deeply personal album, so if you don't want to know about Shawn Colvin then don't buy it. But if you're interested in the emotional record of this strong and quirky woman, buy. I guarantee you'll love it.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By "healinrain"
Format:Audio CD
Okay, I admit it. I bought this album solely for "Sunny Came Home." After giving the CD a few spins, I can definitely say that A FEW SMALL REPAIRS is one of my favorite albums. In the aforementioned "Sunny Came Home," Shawn sings with pure desperation, but she never sounds indulgent. She also doesn't turn the song into candy tragedy, which frequently happens when songwriters try to capture a traumatic event. It also contains the IMMORTAL lyric "Hold on tight, the world is burning down."
Another standout on this album, in my opinion, is "If I Were Brave," where Shawn sings with the only the paino accompanying her. While not as overtly strong as some of the other tracks ("Get Out of this House" and "Trouble" come to mind), this song's appeal is in its fluidity and smoothness.
Another note is Shawn's lyrics and music in general. Here she pulls no punches- each song has it's own definite meaning to be perceived through the singing and music. Although a listener can potentially rock out to these songs (again "Get Out of this House" comes to mind), I think that "A Few Small Repairs" is a "listening" album that deserves a few listens.
Another standout on this album, in my opinion, is "If I Were Brave," where Shawn sings with the only the paino accompanying her. While not as overtly strong as some of the other tracks ("Get Out of this House" and "Trouble" come to mind), this song's appeal is in its fluidity and smoothness.
Another note is Shawn's lyrics and music in general. Here she pulls no punches- each song has it's own definite meaning to be perceived through the singing and music. Although a listener can potentially rock out to these songs (again "Get Out of this House" comes to mind), I think that "A Few Small Repairs" is a "listening" album that deserves a few listens.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shawn's Grammy Award release
This is Shawn's Grammy Award winning album of the year release of which Sunny Came Home won song of the year bringing this remarkable artist the acclaimed attention she... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joe Carlig
5.0 out of 5 stars
A few small repairs
This is a wonderful CD by Shawn Colvin. Each song is unique and original. She is such a wonderful artist! Love this CD!
Published 3 months ago by N. Daloisio Bundy
4.0 out of 5 stars
ok cd
I only like when sunny came home song on this whole cd. I do recommened it to buy it if u like the 90"s music like i do. the 90's were the best years for me.
Published 3 months ago by Britt123
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Shawn Colvin CD
This is a replaqcement . I had previously purchased this disk and it was lost during a trip. After careful desperate searching I had to replace it, being a longtime Fan.
Published 10 months ago by Hairy Bear
5.0 out of 5 stars
A rare folk great
This is some badass folk, and I mean badass in the most human, descriptive, and it's-the-only-word-that-fits way (Amazon if you're reading this, hear my plea and read through... Read more
Published on December 3, 2009 by T. Harward
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Shawn Colvin
I bought this c.d. in the nineties and loved it. I recently rediscovered it and love it all over again. She is a talented musician.
Published on February 5, 2008
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fresh Sound
What a great CD. Such a fresh sound. Really sounds like she is having fun when she is singing. What a unique style. Read more
Published on March 2, 2007 by Monticello Radio Man
5.0 out of 5 stars
If I Were Brave...
In the late 90's Shawn Colvin was one of many in the "angry female singer with guitar" genre. However she is one of the few to not only outlast but to PREDATE this trend. Read more
Published on December 26, 2006 by Edward Francis
3.0 out of 5 stars
I like it but...
This is a good cd but this artist has so much more substance live. Her accompanying guitar player was very expressive. Read more
Published on September 4, 2006 by Scott B. Saul
4.0 out of 5 stars
Folk-rock at its best
Having recently delved into the folk and folk-rock genres, I came upon Shawn Culvin. Had I known she was the singer-songwriter who sang "Sunny Came Home" I'd have probably gotten... Read more
Published on May 6, 2006 by C. Eberlein
