Small Changes (album)

Small Changes
Studio album by
Michael Kiwanuka
Released22 November 2024 (2024-11-22)
Length40:18
Label
Producer
Michael Kiwanuka chronology
Kiwanuka
(2019) 		Small Changes
(2024)
Singles from Kiwanuka
  1. "Floating Parade"
    Released: 10 July 2024
  2. "Lowdown (Part I) / Lowdown (Part II)"
    Released: 12 September 2024
  3. "The Rest of Me"
    Released: 3 October 2024

Small Changes is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka. It was released by Polydor Records and Interscope Records on 22 November 2024 to widespread critical acclaim. The album is Kiwanuka's third consecutive project produced by Danger Mouse and Inflo. It was preceded by the release of three singles, "Floating Parade," "Lowdown (Part I) / Lowdown (Part II)," and "The Rest of Me."

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Clash8/10[3]
DIY[4]
The Independent[5]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[6]
Mojo[7]
NME[8]
The Observer[9]
Pitchfork7.0/10[10]
Uncut[11]

Small Changes received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 83, based on 17 reviews.[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Michael Kiwanuka, Brian Burton, and Dean Josiah Cover, except "Four Long Years", written by Kiwanuka and Burton.

Small Changes track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Floating Parade"3:50
2."Small Changes"4:06
3."One and Only"4:32
4."Rebel Soul"3:28
5."Lowdown (Part I)"3:16
6."Lowdown (Part II)"2:40
7."Follow Your Dreams"3:41
8."Live For Your Love"2:29
9."Stay By My Side"3:44
10."The Rest of Me"3:51
11."Four Long Years"4:41
Total length:40:18

Personnel

Musicians

  • Michael Kiwanuka – vocals (tracks 1–5, 7–11), acoustic guitar (1, 3, 7), bass guitar (1, 2, 5–11), electric guitar (2, 3, 5–11), backing vocals (5, 9), Wurlitzer (9), piano (9), drums (11)
  • Inflo – drums (tracks 1–10), piano (1–4, 6–11), backing vocals (1–4, 7–10), keyboards (2–10), Rhodes (1, 10), synthesizer (2–4, 6–10), bass guitar (3)
  • Rosie Danvers – string arrangements
  • Pete Anthony – orchestra conductor
  • Alecia Chakour – backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 7, 8)
  • Stevvi Alexander – backing vocals (tracks 1–3, 7, 8, 10)
  • LaVance Colley – backing vocals (tracks 1–3, 7, 8)
  • Jimmy Jam – organ (tracks 3, 4), Hammond organ (5)
  • Sharlotte Gibson – backing vocals (tracks 3, 8, 10)
  • Pino Palladino – bass guitar (track 4)
  • James Payne – electric slide guitar (track 5)
  • Emily Holligan – backing vocals (tracks 5, 9)
  • Simone Richards – backing vocals (tracks 5, 9)
  • James Gadson – drums (track 7)
  • Brian Burton – drums (track 9), synthesizer programming (11)

Technical

  • Danger Mouse – production
  • Inflo – production
  • Matt Colton – mastering
  • Richard Woodcraft – mixing, engineering
  • Todd Monfalcone – engineering
  • Kennie Takahashi – engineering
  • Tom Hardistry – strings engineering, strings recording
  • Chandler Harrod – strings recording
  • Alex Kalteziotis – engineering assistance
  • Brian Bair – engineering assistance
  • Dave Clarke – engineering assistance
  • Emily Reeves – engineering assistance
  • Emma Marks – engineering assistance
  • Jacob Spitzer – engineering assistance
  • Max Anstruther – engineering assistance
  • Noah Rastegar – engineering assistance
  • Rich Wheeler – engineering assistance
  • Ryan Nelson – engineering assistance
  • Rich Wheeler – strings engineering assistance
  • Ryan Nelson – strings engineering assistance
  • Dave Clarke – strings engineering assistance
  • Brian Bair – strings engineering assistance
  • Ben Baptie – additional engineering (tracks 7, 9)

Visuals

  • Yout – art
  • Marcus Grey – photography, creative direction
  • Jeremy Ngatho Cole – creative direction, design
  • Jude Amponsah – design

References

  1. ^ a b "Small Changes by Michael Kiwanuka Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  2. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Small Changes - Michael Kiwanuka | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  3. ^ Murray, Robin (22 November 2024). "Michael Kiwanuka – | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  4. ^ Jamieson, Sarah (22 November 2024). "Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes review". DIY. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  5. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (21 November 2024). "Albums this week: Joan Armatrading returns to familiar ground, while Kim Deal and Michael Kiwanuka try something new". The Independent. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  6. ^ Oinonen, Janne (13 November 2024). "Small Changes is a beautifully crafted return from Michael Kiwanuka". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  7. ^ Doyle, Tom (22 November 2024). "Michael Kiwanuka Small Changes Review: Hypnotic beats, empathic emotions and first-rate songwriting". Mojo. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  8. ^ Garratt-Stanley, Fred (22 November 2024). "Michael Kiwanuka – 'Small Changes' review: a homely, life-affirming listen". NME. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  9. ^ Morris, Damien (22 November 2024). "Michael Kiwanuka: Small Changes review – an exquisite return". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  10. ^ Sabet, Habib (3 December 2024). "Michael Kiwanuka: Small Changes Album Review". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  11. ^ Anderson, Jason (18 November 2024). "Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes". Uncut. Retrieved 27 December 2024.