I appreciate Eleni Mandell, even if I’m not personally moved by her, and Miracle of Five crystallizes why. She can write conventionally attractive songs—the torchy “Moonglow, Lamp Low” comes to mind—but she can also demonstrate an intriguing eccentric lyrical sensibility. “Salt Truck” is a paean to the truck that makes wintry road drivable, with the last lines of verses linking icy roads with love, and “My Twin” imagines a more exciting, dramatic life that might involve the twin that she’s never met. That’s an awfully deft way to express the same thought Springsteen bellowed when he sang, “I’m just tired and bored with myself.” But Mandell doesn’t bellow; in fact, she rarely raises her voice. It matches the quiet, patient art-lounge backing of her band, which includes Nels Cline on a dozen stringed instruments and DJ Bonebrake on vibes. The contemporary lounge concept is an intriguing one, but at some point, so many songs with slow tempos and underemoted vocals run together and the wit and sly wisdom of the songs become hard to hear. Irma Thomas recorded one of Mandell’s songs on the Grammy-winning After the Rain, which only confirms what a fine songwriter Mandell is. When her performances have more passion, I’ll do more than admire her songs.