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.

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 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.

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.