---JAMES BLUNT- All THE LOST SOULS---

After a three year gap Ex Army Captain, James Blunt brought out his long awaited second album 'All the Lost Souls' in September 2007. This was the follow up to his hugely successful debut album 'Back to Bedlam' which came out in 2004. James Blunt was a refreshing change on the music scene and he was to music in 2004, what Damien Rice was in 2003. James Blunt has his own unique style of Folk/Rock. He is a balladeer and his songs deal with subjects such as: Heartbreak, infidelity, failed relationships and love.-

James Blunts album 'All the Lost Souls' hit the shelves in 2007, two weeks after the record company released the single taken from the album entitled '1973'. It didn't do too badly in the charts, but this was more to do with the massive airplay it got and not so much to do with the actual song I don't think. A bit like the 'Panic at the Disco' single 'Nine in The Afternoon', a bubble gum tune which did very well for them recently; It was played to death, so in the end even I was humming its inane little tune, much to my dismay. Airplay is all important, and if you are not flavour of the month, it can make or break an artist's release...

I wasn't quite sure if I liked Blunts single,'1973'when I first heard it and was I worried that the album would not live up to his excellent first album, 'Back to Bedlam'. The track '1973' was a nostalgic ditty and one I found didn't sit well, nor did I believe in, as James Blunt himself was not even born then. Nonetheless I still bought the album as I owned the first and I was sure there would be a couple of tracks at least that I would like within the album.-

---ALL THE LOST SOULS---

-1973-
The album kicks off with '1973' the track which was released as the first single. It's a pleasant upbeat tune which reminisces about times in 1973, with a woman he knew then. It is about the good times they had partying, clubbing and staying out all night. The song conjures up images of disco and glitter balls and all night dancing. He sings "As times go by I will always be in a club with you in 1973. Singing "Here we go again" He sings of growing older and how things change. It's very nostalgic and full of atmosphere and I have to say the song has grown on me tremendously since first hearing it. It opens with strong keyboard and electric guitar with a good rhythmic drum beat, lively and vibrant throughout.-

---ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST STARS---
This is a lovely song with beautiful lyrics. It seems to be auto biographical. Blunt sings of making it, taking a chance and reaching his goal. "Taking a chance out on a dance to the moon"; a self portrait; "One of the brightest stars" The piano is stunning and understated accompanying him throughout with the gentle strokes of the electric guitar. He then changes his mood and sings of making it to the grave before the public send him there. It's not morbid, but it is a reflective song which accepts that fame can soon elude you and the very people who put you where you are today, are also the ones who can bring you down again.-

---SAME MISTAKE---
This is a beautiful song. It was brought out as his second single from the album. It is about the problems he has with commitment and fidelity. Blunt is singing honestly and openly, though unhappy, he just can't commit to the one he loves. He is telling her to "Give me reasons but don't give me choice; Cos I'll just make the same mistakes again". This is really quite a sad song; the lyrics are stunning and powerful and 'Same Mistake' has got a fantastic chorus, really poignant and strong. "Remember rights that I did wrong". There are some great lyrics here and this track has to be my very favourite from this album. The track is accompanied by beautiful, melodic guitar and drums and is a fantastic track.

---CARRY YOU HOME---
This is a really powerful song with strong lyrics. He sings of a soldier/soldiers killed at war. "As strong as you were, the tender you go. I'm watching you breathing for the very last time" "A song for your heart". I don't know if this is an actual experience that he had, as James served in Bosnia, and images of soldiers and death come to me from this song. But whatever it means, it is extremely moving and he sings of the effect and consequence of war. He sings of the widows of war and their acceptance. - Of death on the field. "I'll carry you home"- Trouble is the only way is down". A powerful and very sad song accompanied throughout by gentle acoustic guitar.-

---SHINE ON---
'Shine On' has a great melody and it starts with James singing accompanied by acoustic guitar. He is singing to a woman and telling of their break up. But he tells her to "Shine on" We may be gone...but "Shine on". This is "My last goodbye and the words I need are in your eyes". He sings a lot throughout the album about not being able to commit, infidelity and break up. This song has a tremendous chorus and it becomes a full rock sound with screeching electric guitar and crashing drums bringing credence to the ending of their relationship. "It's paid for the cloud we were dancing on"...."Shine on". I really liked this track. The change from folk to heavy rock gave the track a real strength and power.-

---ANNIE---
This is another downbeat song, and he sings of Annie. "You're a star who's not going very far". He sings of a singer, a woman he knows who hasn't made it into the NME (New Musical Express), so therefore she hasn't made it. But he says "You'll be famous cos I'll sing for you"- "Did I see you in a magazine"? "Did your walls come crumbling down"? She's been practising her autograph, but nobody has asked for it. This song could apply to the many good or bad singers out there who never make the 'big time' in the fickle world of music. This is a strong musical track with great keyboards and amazing electric guitar. A quite heavy rock feel which sounds great but the lyrics let it down I feel.-

Well there are some very good tracks on here and some unforgettable ones too. Some that I just press the skip button on; Disappointed? Well I suppose I was on the whole. I thought that I would like more of the tracks than I did. But I'm not sorry I bought the album, I just don't play it as much as 'Back To Bedlam', his first album. I think that after a three year absence I was expecting a little more from his second album than this. What I would say is for any James Blunt fans out there, that it is still worth owning 'All the Lost Souls' for the stand out tracks that I have mentioned. I shall stay loyal and wait in anticipation for the third album by James Blunt and hope that he delivers a bit more solid content than I personally found here on 'All the Lost Souls'.-

One thing I will say is that James Blunt has the most impressive website and whoever designed is the most amazing web designer. It's fantastic and well worth a look. Pop on over and see for yourself.

http://www.jamesblunt.com

Thank you for reading
Electra 2008*