My likes in a nutshell: Music (Mainly rock but varied), Playing guitar (learning), Surfing (again ju...
My likes in a nutshell: Music (Mainly rock but varied), Playing guitar (learning), Surfing (again just learning), squash (the game not the veg) and literature. I'm a student who lives a pretty normal life, friends, family, 4 limbs and a head etc.
Something that isn't seen much in the modern music industry is a simple acoustic band/singer with great lyrics and soft rhythmic instrumentals. Often such uncomplicated acts cant make it in the contemporary music scene, how fortunate it is then that James Blunt is so much more than this. The first thing that jumped out at me from the record after I had bought it (cheap at £5) was the uncompromising strength and soaring tone of the man's voice, this on it's own sets James apart from anything else I have heard recently and indeed from much of the modern pop music scene.
Lately outside of the rock section it is hard to find someone with a truly original voice and mind, names like Leann Rhymes and Nelly Furtado are islands of originality in the sea of orthodoxy that exists in the would-be-genre of 'pop'. So when James's voice came ringing out from the track of a TV advert I snapped to attention, two days later (in my case this was as soon as possible) I had the album in my CD player. This is the point at which I realised that James Blunt not only had a great voice but also a great mind, this mind presented itself in the form of his poetic, yet addictive lyrics.
Now normally you would think that such a brilliant musician would come from a 'musical background', maybe with a folk singer farther or at least a casual guitarist mother but that is not so here. Mr. Blunt comes from a strictly military family, his mother
and father thought that all music was pointless noise … even classical :<0. In fact James was never even played a note by his family. Maybe it was rebellion then, that led him to begin strumming a guitar and sleeping through his aerospace militia lectures. He did eventually follow in the family's footsteps though. The young chip-of-the-ol-block joined the army by default because of his military ancestry, suddenly and unwillingly finding himself rolling through the hills of Kosovo with 'a gun and a guitar strapped to the side of a tank'. Storming Serbian villages whilst singing "all we are saying is give peace a chance".
What the hell does this have to do with his new album?? May be the question you are imploring me at this point to answer, maybe you've already fallen asleep. Either way I will answer the above question now using an excerpt from his online bio: As well as his antics in a war torn Kosovo he also 'guarded The Queen, buried The Queen Mother and pranced around London like a tit for Japanese tourists to photograph, what you're going to want to do very much after that, besides getting stoned and laid, is put your gun down, pick up a guitar and make an album in America with Linda Perry'. Just about says it all really doesn't it? Any way after re-defining the term 'round the houses' this brings us finally to the album.
It rocks, rolls, drifts and weaves its way into your pleasure centers, all whilst making the innocuous listener want to listen to it repeatedly whilst smoking illicit substance, picketing international conferences and generally annoying the hell out of political types.
High - 4.03 The album begins by blowing you away, literally, after the first chorus I found myself being pulled from behind the sofa with a bruise on my head by several worried friends. Although the verses of this song are of a good quality and are reminiscent of Badly drawn boy, the chorus will cause you to believe that you are eavesdropping on heaven. James makes the word 'high' in particular reach up to the stratosphere thanks to his crystalline sopranista voice. The first number will not be a song you will easily forget
You're Beautiful - 3.33 The second song on the album takes a step back in tone. The folksy acoustic verses and elegant bluesy instrumentals create a surprisingly light and airy atmosphere for a song that is in fact a retrospective about a love that couldn't be his. In this song he has created what he is very good at creating; the feelings of a brief fleeting moment crystallized in a song.
Wise Men - 3.42 This is one of two singles on the album (along with high) and its easy to agree with the selection. This is also my personal favourite, carrying the feel good vibe of the album on with a truly euphoric song about letting yourself go. This song shows the quiet rebellion that was no doubt going on in James's mind when he turned to music.
Goodbye My Lover - 4.18 Written and recorded in James's landlady's bedroom, this is a slow ballad reflecting on a relationship that is being ended. The fact that this song is sung entirely without bitterness or bad feeling illustrates a little something about his personality. A simple and harmonic ballad with guitar and piano.
Tears and Rain - 4.04 Unfortunately this is a little too much like Goodbye My Lover for my liking, fortunately it is my favourite of the two. Another sample of the extent of James's vocal talents is provided here with slightly gravely verse vocals contrasting with his signature harmonic incursions. Tears and rain points to a change in the albums tone from the euphoric earlier tracks to a slightly rougher new image.
Out of My Mind - 3.33 Several references in this song seem to refer to the singer's leap from a structured military life to the much less desirable world of professional music. Reminiscent of folk inspired pop bands such as beautiful south, this song is structured chaos and in it's own way is brilliant. The lyrics are witty, poetic and some of the best on the album, despite this James's singing talents are not confined in any way.
So Long Jimmy - 4.34 A lot of jazz is detectable in this brash, yet melodic track backed by a jilty old-skool-ska drum beat and keyboard. Although all of the album bears a little testament to jazz this has much more than it's share not to mention a shot of mo-town in with the mix. A nice jump away from the albums trend well positioned in the middle. Billy - 3.37 Another coy and jazzy song with a jumpy beat and witty lyrics not to mention rhymes that allude to James's true intelligence, Especially: "The damage is done, the prodigal son is too late" of the chorus. This shows the side of James's music that is less euphoric and, dare I say it, Hippy - ish, proving him to be multi-faceted and showing his great prospects.
Cry - 4.06 As with goodbye my lover Cry manages to emote without becoming bogged down with angst and self deprecation. The guitar is still twangy (ok I made that word up) and interesting.
No Bravery - 4.02 Poetic and beautiful. Written and produced with the help of Linda Perry. This song is lyrically the best on the album. It reflects strongly on his unhappy time in the army which is where the intense depth of the song comes from. I will leave you to witness this masterpiece on your own when you are the proud owner of the album as you should definitely strive to be …
Excerpts from JamesBlunt.co.uk
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
As a piece of propaganda, James Blunts albumBack to Bedlamdoes more for changing the face ... more
of the British Army than a series of television adverts ever could. Swapping a rifle for a guitar, the former cavalrymans ballad-heavy debut is a clearly aiming t...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
As a piece of propaganda, James Blunts albumBack to Bedlamdoes more for changing the face ... more
of the British Army than a series of television adverts ever could. Swapping a rifle for a guitar, the former cavalrymans ballad-heavy debut is a clearly aiming t...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: a unique talent and flawless album Disadvantages: all the hype could put people off, and he has a unique voice that obviously isn't for everyone...
May 29th, 2005
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