Back To Bedlam - James Blunt > Reviews

Advantages: The vocals of James Blunt are always excellent, instrumentally the album has much to offer.
Disadvantages: Some may be put off by the mans high vocal style.

'Back to Bedlam' is the first album from singer-songwriter James Blunt, a 2004 release consisting of ten terrific tracks. This is folk rock at its finest I feel, the former British Army Captain certainly put to record an excellent album here and constructed a fine thirty nine minutes of music. 'Back to Bedlam' was voted 'worst album of the year' by the New Musical Express magazine, what do they know though; over 2.3 million copies of the album were ... Read review

Advantages: A fine album with great lyrical content.
Disadvantages: All ballads.

...out to run off the back of this one. Careful lyrical content and a love of his craft makes this an album of excellence and not one track let the album down as a whole. I think James Blunt takes a lot of stick. I'm not too sure why. Perhaps it is seen as 'not cool' to admit to liking him. Whatever, I definitely recommend this album if you like honesty and truth from your lyrics. The musical arrangements are quite understated, allowing the lyrical content ... Read review

Advantages: The music
Disadvantages: The lyrics

...them was 'James Blunt - Back to Bedlam'. I originally bought the CD, after I had initially been charmed by the track 'You're Beautiful'. I had listened to the album many times previously; and then became utterly sick of it. The CD sat unused and ignored for a while; the reasons why I had developed such a dislike for it had faded - which is why it was inserted into the CD player this trip and listened to from beginning to end, thus, re-igniting my ... Read review

Advantages: heartfelt lyrics and great music to listen to
Disadvantages: would have liked to have seen a happier song to end the album

...late to turn the clock back no matter what. The lyrics are trying to say in this song as far as I know, that think before you do anything otherwise you could end up paying a big price for not thinking, then having nothing left at the end of it all. This has a great tune and is another one of James' great songs upon this album. Once he was a lover sleeping with another. Now he's just known as a cheat. And he wish he'd had a mirror; looked a little ... Read review

Advantages: Wonderful Musical experience
Disadvantages: I wanted more.

..."So Long Jimmy" taking me back to my British roots, right through a spectrum of emotion and making me yearn for the next album. The album is complete in its own right though the emotions that it evoked within me make me convinced that I shall be buying this guys next album. Every track has its own merits and sincerity and the future of James Blunt if he keeps his albums in this framework of truth, free expression, and originality is pretty much ... Read review

Advantages: Great tracks, talented musician/singer/writer, relaxing music.
Disadvantages: A bit samey in tempo

...I got an Amazon voucher, Back To Bedlam went into the cart and this time, I have it ripped onto my computer as well. Ha! My fifteen year old's favourite track is Goodbye My Lover, which one of her friends performed at a school concert recently. I still love You're Beautiful but another album track I would pick out is Tears and Rain, which is also a really beautiful, haunting piece. I liked it the first time I heard it, it seemed to stand out. There ... Read review

Advantages: A solid debut with some excellent tracks, There is certainly talent here
Disadvantages: A Couple of weak tracks, You're Beautiful was played to death on the radio

...be James Blunt's debut album, Back To Bedlam. James recently out of the army released the album off the back of the hit single "You're Beautiful". While his debut single was played to death by the likes of Radio 1, I decided to buy his album and find out if James was a one hit wonder on an artist here to stay. For me avoiding the radio as much as possible has meant that I can still appreciate his first single and likewise the rest of the album as ... Read review

Advantages: Some emotive music and lyrics
Disadvantages: It gets on your nerves after a while

..."High". It's a laid back pop ballad, with Blunt's vocals over the top. It starts off as if it's going to be an acoustic number, but soon expands into something that is a little more indie-pop. This combination of indie-pop with a soaring vocal over the top is reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, although Blunt's vocals aren't quite as smooth or as impressive as Buckley's. The first single from the album was "You're Beautiful" and if you've seen the album ... Read review

Advantages: Strong - brilliant vocals, Upbeat, euphoric, emotive
Disadvantages: gets a little bogged down in the middle

James Blunt - Back to Bedlam Info: Tracks: 10 Length: 39.27 Produced by: Tom Rothrock ©2004 Custard Records Something that isn't seen much in the modern music industry is a simple acoustic band/singer with great lyrics and soft rhythmic instrumentals. Often such uncomplicated acts cant make it in the contemporary music scene, how fortunate it is then that James Blunt is so much more than this. The first thing that jumped out at me from ... Read review

Advantages: Some great tunes, mellow sound
Disadvantages: A few samey sounds

...single and an interesting video. Back To Bedlam was a modest seller upon release, it was nothing spectacular and when You're Beautiful was released it entered outside the top ten. But unlike every other single release, this was one that grew in popularity and actually climbed the charts and eventually took the number one spot for several weeks. Not only that but it helped to propel the album to the top of the charts dislodging Coldplay in the ... Read review

Advantages: a unique talent and flawless album
Disadvantages: all the hype could put people off, and he has a unique voice that obviously isn't for everyone...

...anything like him. ********** The debut album, Back To Bedlam has 10 fantastic songs. The album starts off with 'High', a great song, very relaxing to listen to. You could put it on after a hard day at work and just drift away. High is not a very up tempo song, but then in my opinion, none of the songs on the album are. Just simple guitar, piano and James Blunt's unmistakable vocal style, you could not dance to any of the tracks, but you can sure ... Read review

Advantages: Good easy listening songs!
Disadvantages: None at the moment...

...in a film based back in the 1950s, where the mother is sitting at a piano with all her children round her, teasching them how to play. The lyrics of the song are ok, as is the song itself, I think that is probably why I have got such a vivid imagination and tried to give it a set. Erm, another weak link for me, so that's probably why it is last...again nothing much to say, other than it is dominated by a piano and at some bits it can become ... Read review