Following his two previous albums, whihc consisted mostly of covers, Cullum releases this follow-up which returns the calls for more original pieces and more of the pianist. The way in which he answers them is great and thsi stands easily as my favourite Cullum album and one of my favourite ... Read review
Catching Tales - CD
Get Your Wa (Allen Toussaint/Jamie Cullum/Dan Nakamura) London Skies (Jamie Cullum/Guy ... more
Chambers) Photograph I Only Have Eyes For You (Al Dubin/Harry Warren) Nothing I Do Mind Trick (Jamie Cullum/Ben Cullum) 21st Century Kid I'm Glad There Is Y...
A review by Robin_Hod12 on Catching Tales - Jamie Cullum July 23rd, 2009
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
All Originals Tracks That Feature Some Nice Jazzy Instrumentation
Disadvantages:
Some Of The Songs Are Similar
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Following his two previous albums, whihc consisted mostly of covers, Cullum releases this follow-up which returns the calls for more original pieces and more of the pianist. The way in which he answers them is great and thsi stands easily as my favourite Cullum album and one of my favourite listens. Some may see this record as a step away from some of the jazz sounds on his previous albums, but then this is a modern world that we live in and a new painist and voice is definetly welcome in the deluge of rerun pop music on the radio.
As with his other albums, this does deal with some of the themes and angst associated with youth and how he deals with those situations, involving a lot of narrative tracks whihc suit his style of vocal and the way in which he writes them.
1. Get Your Way - The album opens with this very jazzy piece that combines the instrumental parts with a vocal line that matches the beat and tune well, telling the tale of how the singer is perhaps growing tired of his partner's controling nature.
2. London Skies - This is a very pictruesque song, reminising in the sky over london,which although to some may seem a cloudy smog, to Cullum is a beautiful testiment to the beauty that encapsultes London and ultimately that of modern Britain.
3. Photograph - This is probably my favourite song on the album, containing a great piano part and lyrics, that deal with past childhood memories and the misadventures that entailed from them. This is just his piano to back him, and perhaps this is why i like it so much, as the production is sparse, although it does include a drum part on the chours, but this follows the change in oace of the song.
4. I Only Have Eyes For You - A very touching song that tells of his desire for one person and one person only, beautiful done and some nice nightclub prcouction that makes it feel both errie and serene, sitting in a night time setting, a great song.
5. Nothing I Do - Another track that deals with problem relations and how people deal with. This is a narrative piece that looks at the reaction each has to a situation that draws them apart, again backed by some nice simple jazz musicianship.
6. Mind Trick - This is a song about music and how perhaps it has created the path through which his life has followed, a nice song overall that again comes back to relationships.
7. 21st Century Kid - This is obviously a song about the problems with youth in the modern world and how hard it is to deal with some of the issues and problems that arise in the modern world for the youth of today.
8. I'm Glad There Is You - A softer song that is effectively a love song that feels much more mature and better rounded compared to some of the other tracks. The change in tempo during the track also makes it feel dynamic and adds to the feel of this song.
9. Oh God - A more lyrically complex some that looks at humanity and some of the failures of the systems that we as a race have created, looking for the answers and trying to see some solution to them.
10. Catch The Sun - This is again a softer piece, but i do feel that lyrically and musically this is weaker track than some of the other tracks, relying more on pop than jazz.
11. 7 Days To Change Your Life - A strange song that seems to humour the quick fixes that are offered in the modern world, whether they be maoney or health related. The song takes the form almost as an advert for a made up programme to improve your life, a strange song, but still pretty good.
12. Our Day Will Come - A different track instrumentally that seems almsot dance and californian at the same time, with the lyrics dealing with simple ideas, but the music moving around and upping the dynamic and movement of this song.
13. Back To Ground - The first of a good finishing trio, which again has lots of dynamic changes in the track and a nice vocal and lyrical part that make this a great song. This song seems to deal with a chnage in lifestyle to return to a more stable plane and get away from the rushed lifestyle he lives in now.
14. Fascinating Rhythm - A more classic jazz piece that has some nice musicianship that really makes this little ditty of a track that looks at Cullum's love of rhythm and the effect that it has on him when listening to music.
15. My Yard - A bonus track that makes a nice change from some of the pieces on here, as it uses an acoustic guitar in place of the piano and just talks about an evening in with someone else. This is one of the more upbeat pieces and is a nice track to close the album.
Overall, i love thsi album, and it makes a nice jump from the previous outings to provide more of Cullum's own songs and deals with some more personal issues and looks at how the youth of today deal with the world around them.
Advantages: Some fantastic tracks Disadvantages: Needs more than just some fantastic tracks
...birthday when his second album, Catching Tales was released in September. I guess his genre strictly comes under jazz and vocal, but I don't think Jamie can be properly defined into a strict genre, as he adds an amazing twist to everything he does. From re-vamping some truly classic pieces to co-composing some great new songs, which have an edgy, feel, but still combines jazz piano and improv! And Mr Cullum is a pretty damn good genius on the piano!
... ...broadening their listening horizons, because Catching Tales gently introduces you to jazz, but doesn't chuck it at you all in one go, for it still contains a lot of modern features. This would be a good CD to put on at a social function, because it does work as background music, but having said that; it still works if you want to listen to this through headphones, and focus all your attention on it. You just may find your attention is only focussed ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Easy to listen to - Relaxing Disadvantages: Not enough tracks
...nervous when I brought the Catching Tales incase he was telling tales! The image of Jamie Cullum on the front of the CD gives a hint of the contents, comfy, relaxed, young, happy, the back of the CD has a picture of jeans just a little bit worn and a bit too long with comfy trainers and again is showing the stress-free style of the CD.
I found that every track was mellow and comforting and original (even the cover tracks sounded original and new). ... ...being better than another, the whole album to me was just perfect. It is all very mellow jazz type music with the very mature voice of Jamie, very easy listening and relaxing. The cover tracks of 'I only have eyes for you' and 'Our day will come' are better than the originals. Let me go over the songs in more detail:
Get your way - The track has a bumpy melody and I found I could hoover and cook, read, relax, drink etc (not all at the same time) ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Some brillaint easy listening Disadvantages: A few weak tracks
I love Jamie Cullums voice and this is a showcase of this voice as was his first album. There are one or two tracks that I personally are not that fond of but that is the only down point of this album the other 13 tracks are superb and as always Jamie throws in a couple of covers including a brilliant version of Catch The Sun. Some of the lyrics I find myself really relating to such as photograph - a brilliant track which is all about memories stirred ... ...remember good times. 21st century kid is a brilliant track too and is a slant on what it means to grow up in the 21st century and has also has a brilliant chorus.
A good album and very easy listening but I have to say I prefer twentysomething. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
Value for Money
helpful
17.09.2006
The Album. Review ofCatching Tales - Jamie Cullumby
STARgirl__x
Advantages: piano skills Disadvantages: piano solos too long
Jamie never fails to amaze me. His vocal preformance on this album is really good and unique. His piano playing is really great, however, most of the piano solos are too long in my opinion and it gets a bit boring to the point where you have to switch song. Apart from that, the album is really relaxing. It has a mix of different types of jazz music and some of the songs are like ballad types and up-tempo types. They are really catchy and you will ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Where to start? Slinky, sexy, modern jazz Disadvantages: I really can't think of any.
...I have accidently stumbled across Beady Belle via JamieCullum who chose them as a support band for his CatchingTales tour. WOW what a great sound!!
Beady Belle is a colaboration of Beate S Lech and Marius Reksjo. This norweigen band is yet to be disccovered big time. After doing my research I can tell you they have been around for a while and Beate has been writing and singing - well almost forever but to my surprise it seems only very few people have heard of them. Why isn't this stuff aired in UK as much as it deserves?
Beaty Belle is perhaps one of the Jazzland's best. Fantastic jazz mixed with electronics so well you'll be blown away just listening to first few tracks. The elements of pop, acid jazz, soul, dance and new age music melt into a unique, ineffable whole new experience. The intoxicating mix of gooves will move both...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Album Notes: 'Catching Tales' is the anticipated second album from jazz revivalist Jamie Cullum. Written in less than four months and featuring collaborations with Dan The Automator, Ed Harcourt, and The Neptunes to name but a few, the album features ten original tracks penned by Cullum himself, and also features a handful of jazz standards and covers. The lead single 'Get Your Way' is also included.
Titles on disc 1
1.: Get Your Way
2.: London Skies
3.: Photograph
4.: I Only Have Eyes For You
5.: Nothing I Do
6.: Mind Trick
7.: 21st Century Kid
8.: I'm Glad There Is You
9.: Oh God
10.: Catch The Sun
11.: 7 Days To Change Your Life
12.: Our Day Will Come
13.: Back To The Ground
14.: Fascinating Rhythm
15.: My Yard
16.: My Yard
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Listed on Ciao since : 23/10/2005
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