First before I start, I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I'd like to introduce you to one of my favourite artists, Jamie Cullum. I was hooked as a fan when his first album Twenty Something came out, and I was quick to request this CD for my 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!
I love the CD case and insert too. The whole colour scheme is red, black, white and tan and has a very simple, yet effective feel. The front picture of Jamie is lovely, he oozes a great, down to earth feeling which I really like in artists. The way they've printed the lyrics is, in my opinion, great because the size and style of the font changes every few words, so adds a unique interesting feel already. Those of you who have the CD will know what I mean!
I'm not going to review every track, as this will get very boring for you all! So I'm going to review the tracks I feel which are the best and which show Jamie in his best
light.
Track 1: Get Your Way This is a great start to the album; we are treated to an upbeat funky feel with some great piano feels. The song is about a regular guy meeting a woman who acts like she owns the room and how she comes off in his eyes. This track also keeps some good jazzy feels, like emphasis on the rhythm section, and using the piano for some jazzy inserts around the song.
Track 2: London Skies This song is significant to me, because I saw Jamie perform this in Holland a couple of days after the London bombings, and so this was his tribute to home and how beautiful it will always be in his eyes. In this he plays the acoustic guitar (and he co-wrote this) and is very relaxing to listen to; he keeps his voice level but passionate, and you can just tell he's singing about the place he loves. "Will you let me romanticise the beauty in the London skies. You know the sunlight always shines behind the clouds of London skies" The song has a more poppy feel; it's quite far away from jazz and uses some original riffs.
Track 3: Photograph I think this song will have meaning to everyone who listens to it; every body can relate to this and understand it so I think it's very effective. It has a very lazy and calming feel, though it has a passionate build up with Jamie mainly on the piano. The song is about looking at photos (obviously!) and thinking about those memories, which they bring, and the life-changing experiences everyone goes through and it makes you realise the amazing things that happen. It's also most memorable as it has a big piano solo in the middle, building up to a more passionate chorus, but the song finishes as calmly as it started. "when I look back on my ordinary, ordinary life, I see so much magic though I missed it at the time."
Track 11: 7 Days to Change Your Life In my opinion, this is the best track which incorporates the traditional jazz ballad feel, but with a modern twist. The modern twist on this is the lyrics and their inspiration. The song's about all the quick fixes people offer to all your problems and how you can turn your life around in just 7 days. The world is full of everyone trying to find a quick fix, and many feel this is the only way you can change. "In just 7 short days you'll change your life All of your innocence found, you'll even lose a few pounds. See yourself making a mint, quality time with your kids Send me your money and I'll change your life." Does that sound familiar to some people's desires I wonder? The traditional aspect of this song is the instrumentation. It's a slow tempo and there are lots of gaps between each line of the lyrics, and in the gaps are lots of piano twiddles (sorry, can't think of a better adjective!) which is just Jamie on the piano at the start, noodleing around on the piano, just casually filling in the gaps.
Track 14; Fascinating Rhythm I'm sure many of you would have heard of this song, but Jamie once again adds one of his best twists which he does a lot when performing live. The song starts like track 11, with Jamie singing the classic song with a jazz accompaniment; and it's just him and the piano, with the feel of a little jazz and blues club with some playing in the background. But then there's a pause and you hear an odd sort of percussion accompaniment. But wait, it's Jamie, drumming the piano! He does it so well, I've tried this and it's hard (and hurts!). But he's drumming around on the piano, getting different sounds with his hands and starts singing the chorus bit which we all know, and then he starts plucking the piano strings! It adds a great effect, and then he goes back into the more familiar jazzy, rhythm section and singing feel. I think this should have been the final track on the album as it would have been a great finish. "Fascinating rhythm, you got me on the go, fascinating rhythm, I'm all a quiver. What a mess you're making, the neighbours want to know why I'm always shaking just like my grandmother".
So there you go, those are the tracks which I think are the best tracks on the album. Ig I have to criticise, I feel that a fair few of the tracks are melt in to the background songs, and they don't grab your attention enough, and I think they should do. It just needs some more variety. I think this CD would suit young people who are interested in 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 on some particular tracks.
This can be bought for £9.97 from Tescos and Asda, which is a pretty damn good bargain! Don't go to HMV!! It's far more expensive!!!
Thanks for reading :o)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I'll have to download the tracks you recommend - are songs 4-10 a bit rubbish, then?
gary622 02.05.2006 15:44
i like twenty something so i might give this one a go too. just a quick tip though; while your review is very good it seems awfully long-winded. a bit more concise and it wouldhave kept my attentionfor longer.
thanks for the information anyway
xxx
duskmaiden 16.02.2006 13:47
I quite like him. I've got 20 Somethin so might try this one
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...
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