Hope all of you Ciao folk are well! Keep smiling! x
Hope all of you Ciao folk are well! Keep smiling! x
Member since:19.06.2005
Reviews:25
Members who trust:43
James Blunt is a new kid on the block, if you like, bringing along with him his acoutic guitar and some rock and pop. "Back to Bedlam" is James Blunt's debut album, and it's currently storming the UK music charts. Blunt has released several singles, with "you're beautiful" being his biggest hit to date, which was released at the end of May 2005. However, the album has been out since 11th October 2004, and James Blunt's talent is only just being recognised!
James Blunt's family have not, however, got any musical history, and so the listener is left wondering how a man could become so talented! Instead, his family have served in some kind of army for hundreds of years. Not a musical bone in any one of their bodies at all. The only music the young James heard growing up was "Happy Birthday" and "Silent Night" because his father considered all music, yes, even classical, to be unnecessary noise! Although the young James was not one to rock the family boat, he didn't really think he was going to join the army but it certainly crept up on him and he found himself in Kosovo holding a gun. After carrying out his duties for Queen and country, what James wanted to do very much was, besides getting stoned and laid, put his gun down, pick up a guitar and make an album in America! Therefore, James went to Los Angeles in September 2003 and started to record his first album. At night, James Blunt would go to bars, bringing with him his guitar and British accent (which was too posh for some people in the UK, but in Los Angeles was the best selling point) and the fact that like 50 Cent, he'd been shot at many a time, but unlike him, had managed to dodge the bullets successfully.
James Blunt has a superb voice, which I feel is certainly unique. He is a fantastic singer that can sing live aswell as on the recording of the album. His voice has a strange sound to it, even when he speaks, and this helps him to create his wonderful character in his songs, and unique sound, along with using musical techniques such as falsetto.
The albums length is 39.26 and there are a total of 10 tracks.
Track Listings:
1)High - 4.03 A great opening to the album and the first single released from the album on the 18th of october 2004. The song is all about drugs, and generally getting high. The song has a nice quiet acoustic guitar opening, and then James Blunt's voice is introduced. The song then becomes more upbeat when a bass and drums enter. The song is really quite pretty with some nice acousitic guitars and some funky keyboard entries! An impossible song to sing unless you're James Blunt as he slips in and out of falsetto throughout the song just singing odd words in falsetto! The song is generally happy and uplifting, and a nice jolly tune. It also has great lyrics, "will you be my shoulder when I'm grey
and older? Promise me tomorrow starts with you, getting high; running wild among all the stars above. Sometimes it's hard to believe you remember me."
2)You're Beautiful - 3.36 The third single to be released from the album on the 30th May 2005. This song has another nice acoustic guitar opening, with an electric guitar. Again, it becomes more upbeat when the bass and drums enter, but this is much more of a pop ballad than the first track. The song is a really beautiful song and it includes one swear word, which I have to say is probably one of the best parts of the album. This swear word was changed to "flying high" when released on the single, but not on the album.....I'm sure we can all guess what it is. More illusions to drugs appear in this song. For me it works perfectly. This song has truely beautiful lyrics and is generally a wonderful song, and Blunt's greatest hit to date. "You're beautiful, you're beautiful, you're beautiful, it's true. There must be an angel with a smile on her face, when she thought up that I should be with you. But it's time to face the truth, I will never be with you."
3)Wisemen - 3.46 The second single to be released from the album on the 7th March 2005. A much more soulful sounding song and more usual references to drugs. It begins quiet, but suddenly becomes much more exciting and soulful. This song is coolness in music. It has the makings of a great song, fantastic guitar solo before the last chorus, odd use of instruments such as funky keyboard entries, use of organs, and wurlitzers, and again some great lyrics. "Really sorry now, they weren't to know, they got caught up in your talent show, with you pernickety little b******s in your fancy dress, who just judge each other and try to impress."
4)Goodbye My Lover - 4.23 One of the most beautiful songs on the album and it has to be released as a single! Many a fan's favourite, and when I saw him perform this on the Jools Holland show live, I was in complete awe as to how talented he actually is live. This is a much slower, prettier song, which includes the piano and not much else really. The song is clearly about a broken love, and a love that no longer exists, but is missed. This song has some of the most beautiful lyrics on the album, and his voice is overflowing with emotion! "You touched my heart, you touched my soul, you changed my life and all my goals. And love is blind and that I knew when, my heart was blinded by you. I've kissed your lips and held your head. Shared your dreams and shared your bed. I know you well, I know your smell. I've been addicted to you. Goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend, you have been the one, you have been the one for me." I'd love to be able to type out every single lyric.....because there isn't a line in this song that isn't beautiful...
5)Tears And Rain - 4.07 A nice pretty song, going back to happier music! A nice acoustic guitar and keyboard opening with the entry of James Blunt's vocals a little later. The song has some more clever lyrics with the mention of Dorian Gray, a character in the Oscar Wilde novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray". In which Dorian Gray, an extremely handsome young man, feels handsome when compared to a portrait of himself, but due to many corrupt events, grows to feel ugly even though his features haven't changed. "I guess it's time I run far, far away; find comfort in pain, all pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble. Hides my true shape, like Dorian Gray. I've heard what they say, but I'm not here for trouble." The song is extremely upbeat, and quite happy especially when the bass and drums are added for the second verse. The song also has some beautiful lyrics again. "How I wish I could surrender my soul; shed the clothes that become my skin; see the liar that burns within my needing. How I wish I'd chosen darkness from cold. How I wish I had screamed out loud, instead I've found no meaning." This song also has the advantage of string accompaniment, which I really feel compliments the song. The strings simply add long notes to form chords, but this simple addition to the texture of the music is perfect, and helps to make this song excellent!
6)Out Of My Mind - 3.38 I find this song to be really fun! Again, it is upbeat and jolly, but again ever so simple. Some odd sounds at the beginning of the song with pump organs and wurlitzers being key instruments. The chorus is extremely simple with the repetition of "I'm out of my mind". The song is a great pop song, with building patterns to the chorus', and some more funky keyboard in places, and lots of noise from bass and drums. Some of the lyrics are also extremely fun, and this is another one of my favourite songs alot of the time! "Judging by the look on the organ-grinder, he'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit. It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder. He's waiting for the day when he gets me, but I won't be your concubine - I'm a puppet not a whore."
7)So Long Jimmy - 4.35 Another jolly song! Written by Jimmy Blunt and Jimmy Hogarth, "So Long Jimmy" seems to show how they will miss working together. More guitars, wurlitzers, hammonds, and drums and bass make this song into a great sound again with some cool lyrics showing their song writing and making journey together. "Digging how the guitar goes, in a song that no one knows. Did you lick that line yourself, or did the voodoo magic help?" and... "So long, Jimmy, so long. Sure we're glad for the experience, we miss you now you've gone. We're just swimming in your soul 'cause, we all wish we wrote this song. Life goes on."
8)Billy - 3.38 Another jolly tune! More funky piano and keyboard entries working together to form another cool track. Another song with some soul, and another good old pop song, with real talent. Again some very clever lyrics, and a great bridge, which seems to change the whole feeling of the song. "Tomorrow comes. Sorrow becomes his soul mate. The damage is done. The prodigal son is too late. Old doors are closed but he's always open, to relive time in his mind. Oh Billy."
9)Cry - 4.19 A slower more sad sounding song. One of the more minor key songs on the album, but still good! The introduction is rather haunting, and there seems to be a continuous groan throughout the song, which seems to add impact and emotion to the song. This is another one of the songs on the album that is full of emotion, especially conveyed through the lyrics used. "I have seen birth. I have seen death. Lived to see a lover's final breath. Do you see my guilt? Should I feel fright? Is the fire of hesitation burning bright? And if you want to talk about it once again, on you I depend. I'll cry on your shoulder. You're a friend." The song seems to be about all of the experiences that James Blunt has had with things like war, love and death. A song of beauty, which is a total contrast to many of the more soulful tracks.
10)No Bravery - 4.02 This song is horrible..... but in a good way! It is so sad, and has made me resort to tears pretty much every time I listen to it! However, it's one of my favourite songs on the album because of this. This song is all about war, and it's the one pare that sets me off every time, "Old men kneel to accept their fate. Wives and daughters cut and raped. A generation drenched in hate."....nice, I know! It's another slow song, and it is extremely depressing. Believe me when I say that those aren't the only awful lyrics either, but I believe that it is extremely brave and a good thing, to use such lyrics to portray the image of death and war, after all Captain James Blunt has witnessed it himself. "There are children standing here, arms outstretched into the sky, tears drying on their face. He has been here. Brothers lie in shallow graves. Fathers lost without a trace. A nation blind to their disgrace, since he's been here" and... "Houses burnt beyond repair. The smell of death is in the air. A woman weeping in despair says, "he has been here". Tracer lighting up the sky. It's another families, turn to die. A child afraid to even cry out says, "he has been here". I feel such lyrics makes the song much more moving, especially when James Blunt sings with such emotion in his voice. It is a fantastic end to the album, which is guaranteed to get you sobbing into your headphones.
The cover and inlay design is extremely good with photographs of James Blunt, and artwork, plus all of the lyrics to the songs, and all of the generally recording information.
I purchased the album for £9.99 from Play.com but I have seen it in some other music stores for slightly cheaper. However, I was quite happy to purchase it at the price of £9.99 as it is a fantastic album.
James Blunt is certainly an amazingly talented individual and I'm sure his music will become even more popular still. He is a great live singer and truely talented rather than an act. Blunt uses falsetto as he sings, and this technique really compliments his voice. I sort of compare him to Damien Rice, but I feel he is much more "poppy" and doesn't quite capture the emotion aswell as Damien other than in songs like "No Bravery" and "Goodbye My Lover". However, at the same time, he's like a male Macy Grey with that odd, yet cool voice! I don't think there is much to dislike about him to be honest....he just seems like a nice singing fellow, with many positives. The only fear is that he will become too popular for my liking, and be mega mainstream music, and I hate that sort of stuff as you may notice from alot of my other music reviews that are currently there, and that will appear in the near future, as they aren't massive bands. However, I hope that even if he does become a mega star, I'll still be in love with Mr. James Blunt, because for a change....there is some talent in the charts! I'd recommend this album to anyone and everyone! It's fabulous stuff, and really quite easy listening! A unique artist!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Excellent review, very informative.. I have the album and I agree he has an amazing talent, Sarah
ciaomeister1 24.03.2006 21:29
I wish someone had pointed out the swearword in you're beautiful before. There I was driving along in my car. Little people in the back. Suddenly the loudest, best pronounced word on the whole CD blares out. What does "F~#@#@# mean?" I totally agree with you about Goodbye My Lover too.
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...
As a piece of propaganda, James Blunts album Back to Bedlam does more for changing the ... more
face 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...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: The vocals of James Blunt are always excellent, instrumentally the album has much to offer. Disadvantages: Some may be put off by the mans high vocal style.
Advantages: A fine album with great lyrical content. Disadvantages: All ballads.
Morning_Becomes_Electra 29.04.2008 (29.04.2008)
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Review of Back To Bedlam - James Blunt
Jul 14th, 2005
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