Back To Bedlam - James Blunt > Reviews > The still, sad music of humanity...

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	a haunting, beautiful classic
Disadvantages:	suited to certian moods only

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Every few years the fashions of music change and when viewed over time its possible to see the same styles being reborn and reinvented for the new market. It's easy to spot these trends by taking the long view, especially where the singer-songwriter is concerned. In the female market it is easy to see that the likes of Katie Melua and K.T. Tunstall are the Suzanne Vega or Tracy Chapman for the next generation, and they themselves are the embodiment of Judie Tzuke or even Carole King. On the male side of things, which seems to be in the ascendancy this new crop are also in a strong tradition. From David Gray, who seems to have opened the doors for this current trend back to the mighty Paul Simon, the seminal Jeff Buckley and beyond, I sure if you had the time and inclination it would be possible to spring board from artist to artist back through time to the medieval troubadours of medieval France and the wandering bards of the Dark Ages and still be on a common thread.

But back to the present. Blunt is one of a plethora of one-man shows that are currently in vogue. David Gray, as I said seems to have re-ignited a spark for this style and was quickly followed by Damien Rice and now the newest on the scene ex-army officer James Blunt. It may sound as if I'm implying that the names I've mentioned have only become successful due to this current enthusiasm for solo artists, I'm not. The music industry is like a small window in a large room. From the outside it can only allow a restricted view of what's inside but you know that its only a small piece of what's within, but most people are content to just look in through this media window. Blunt and his colleagues are currently in view at the window but would still be doing their thing, and doing it lucratively, whether they were in plain view or hidden from the general publics gaze.

So on to the album. Opening with the simple acoustic guitar lines of "High" later to be joined by a fuller sound, the first thing that strikes you is the mans voice. Not the over produced and squeaky clean cloned pop sound that we are generally offered, his is an unusual and graceful sound that matches the flow of the music to great affect. By the time the rest of the band have come on board and the electric guitar has filled in the sparseness and the drums have kicked the song into a more rock vein, you feel that you have been listening to this song all of your life. By the second chorus, I guarantee, that you will be singing along. Simple, understated and a working lesson in the "less-is-more" art of song writing.

The song that brought him to everyone's attention, "You're Beautiful" follows and that now instantly recognisable guitar riff leads us into now familiar territory. What makes the likes of Blunt, Rice and Gray so accessible is their ability to write open honest love songs. Wearing their hearts on their sleeves and wringing every ounce of passion from the most basic of building blocks, they highlight the realities of relationships, from the hurt and pain to the raptures and joys. Leave the sickly sweet fantasies to the likes of Westlife, these are people living in the real word and reminding us that we all go through the same trials of love and life. Blunts closing line to this otherwise positive song reminds us of this. "But its time to face the truth, I will never be with you"

The sparseness of "Goodbye My Lover" comes as a contrast as the guitars are put away for moment and a very minimal piano accompanies what is almost an impassioned a cappella track. The strength of the words holds the attention and the decision to add almost nothing musically to it was the right one. It's a very brave way of recording a song, there is nothing for the singer to hide behind and it sinks or swims on the strengths of the artist. Here Blunt pulls it off and it does raise the question as to how many people could have fare as well, or would even have the confidence to attempt such an endeavour. I'm sure the song has deep meaning for Blunt but its appeal must be that almost everyone can apply the song to something in their life, whether remembering good times or bad, this bitter sweet symphony is a classic. The art of writing songs in this vein is allowing the listener to take the songs personally, and you feel as if Blunt wrote this one just for you, a small sound track to one specific time in your life perhaps. Emotions still pour with "Tears and Rain" and "Out of My Mind" and although these sons sound a bit derivative of the overall sound of what has gone before, it is only the quality of the previous songs that makes it seem this way. If these songs are taken out of context they are still ones that most musicians would have been proud to write.

The repetitive pedal riff of "So Long Jimmy" acts as the hook to hang the rest of the song and as it builds the words and to a lesser extent the music put me in mind of Del Amitri, from ten years previously when they were riding high with their classic album "Waking Hours", another band that acted as a sign post to simpler and more effective writing styles. "Billy" by contrast is a smoother laid back affair, bass and keyboards build a wash of sound for the words to dance over and listening to this as I write, it has just struck me that Blunts voice reminds me of a younger Rod Stewart, and that's no bad thing. Since Scotland's prodigal child sold out and became a housewives choice making second-rate crooner albums, there is a gap in the market, and Blunt cold just fill a part of that.

Haunting sounds lead into to another outpouring from the heart in the form "Cry" and another acoustic ballad is offered up. Although nine songs down the line you may be thinking that what Blunt does is a bit samey that he's a one trick pony, and you may be right. What makes him succeed is the strength of those songs. Although what he offers is very much in the same vein, laid back, simple, moody, reflective and honest are not bad qualities to endorse. His songs, whilst being very much in a style that he will, I'm sure, become associated with, irrespective of what he does next, they are some of the finest examples of that style and whilst he is able to keep righting songs of that quality, he probable feels no need to experiment and push himself in other directions.

The album closes with "No Bravery" another piano led minimal song, a fitting closure to this collection. Taking a bigger subject than the usual inner emotions, this song paints a war torn landscape and takes you by the hand and leads you through the devastation. Considering Blunts previous military background the song becomes even more poignant. The landscape is Bosnia and the narrator is Blunt himself, this time he makes the journey with a guitar and not a gun.

Its a short album, by modern standards, only ten songs but the old adage of quality not quantity springs to mind here.This is also an album for a certain mood. A quite Saturday night in, recovering on a Sunday morning or just as the sound track to something in your life. In style it is timeless, accessible and in places hauntingly beautiful. The richness of the lyrics counterpoints the simplicity of the music and although ballad orientated, this is a collection of some fine songs. If you admire the qualities of fellow tunesmith, Damien Rice, and I for one do, then this is for you. It will be interesting to see what Blunt comes back with for the "difficult second album" but even if he moves into other fields and different styles, here he has created a classic.