The mid-naughties saw a rise in popularity of that previous staple of the late 1960's, the earnest singer songwriter. Normally the preserve of a select circle of enthusiasts, the genre found itself thrust into the spotlight as record companies needed to plug a gap in the market vacated by the "name" acts like U2 and Radiohead who were taking extended hiata from releasing new product. Suddenly we were presented with a whole plethora of singers - Blunt, Nutini, Allen and the devils reincarnate brother and sister Bedingfields to name but five - and also James "don't call me Jim" Morrison.
Born 10/07/84 in Rugby, Warwicks., Morrison shares a name with the famous frontman of the Doors, LA's premier late 60's act. There endeth the similarities. Morrison's, James' that is, debut offering "Undiscovered" which put him at the top of the charts on its release in summer '06, comprises a set of songs varying between soft rock and blue eyed soul. Whilst pleasant enough, I must say I find it rather forgettable after repeated listens. Whilst Morrison undoubtedly has a fine voice, helped by his spat-out phrasings and resonant growling vocal, the bland arrangements and unimaginative session musicians backing him fail to raise the standard of the material much from that of coffee table soul.
Only when things go deliciously awry in the frantic and unusual Call The Police does this album rise above much of its late-night blandorama feel. The opening track Under The Influence ends with some clapping and whoops in the studio. Quite why I'm not sure, as this Motown-meets-eastern vibe is simply a looped rythym track with not much going for it. Perhaps the sound crew were just relieved to hear the last of it.
The singles You Give Me Something and Wonderful World are both quite good, but unfortunately lays bare the rather limp remainder of the CD. This Boy sees a fairly good vocal delivery but again, the workaday backing track strips any sense of excitement or drama from what could have been a real impassioned number. Penultimate track If The Rain Must Fall reminds one of Al Green at his very best and is a faithful nod to TSOP circa 1973.
If reading a paperback in Starbucks whilst you sip at your choice of coffee and check your emails is your chosen way of spending your spare time, this is probably all the "soul" music you'll ever need. Well good luck to ya, but for me it's all too bland, too inoffensive ('cept Call The Police" which is fab). James, if you get rid of your poncy backing band and want to really SING, do it. The recent more down-with-da-kids collaboration with Canadian chanteuse Nelly Furtado, whilst in itself quite unmemorable albeit commercially sucessful perhaps shows the way forward as both artist and industry struggle to reposition themselves in the wake of the digital download revolution.
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Apr 10th, 2009
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