Like anything in life, it could have been worse, but it could also have been better. Much better. Nevertheless, the latest "effort" (if we can even call it an effort considering all the new songs were written in a massive villa in Ibiza) from British (O_O) James Blunt is quite striking. No more syrupy and haunting ballads in pure Blunt style. Here we are faced with a real evolution, a truly remarkable musical change. Sure, now it's syrupy and haunting soft pop rock but at least the goal of the ever-youthful British singer-songwriter is clear, crystal clear. As I had already speculated from the pleasant listening of the first album ("Back to Bedlam") his aim is to kill us all. To drive us to exasperation and then to suicide and thus to transform this God-forsaken world into his Kingdom. He will probably also be the Last Man on Earth, but that doesn't change things. Let the listening begin:
1 - "1973" - The first single is also the first track of the new album. Nothing to complain about, great song and nice lyrics. Even if it's a bit paradoxical considering that probably in 1973 Blunty wasn’t even born yet. Anyway, let's pretend this little detail doesn't exist and fully immerse ourselves in this wonderful ode to time passing without looking anyone in the face, in this wonderful celebration of Ibiza, of its famous Pacha (no people, don't think wrong, I’m more than sure it's not hidden advertising) and of an anonymous Simona (yes, she’s Italian). Don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly not because the Italian name is repeated a lot that I like the song. =_=’
2 - "One Of The Brightest Stars" - It took me a good half an hour to memorize this damn title and at least another half an hour to say it out loud. Good verse, it seems to add a dramatic touch to the situation. Terrible chorus, it reminds me of some bloody Chicco commercial. Or worse. Holy Christ it's like being in a Musical.
3 - "I'll Take Everything" - I might be terribly wrong, but this song reminds me a bit too much of the pop atmospheres of good old uncle Moby. And that's why it deserves full promotion. A bit too distressing but very catchy. Maybe repetitive, but it's exactly this repetitiveness that is the winning card of uncle Moby...
4 - "Same Mistake" - This song is a real enigma. Damn, it’s identical to how he played it live a year and a half ago. It hasn't changed a single damn thing. Oh well, you can’t have everything in life. Good lyrics, good music, and beautiful Blunty’s mystical howling (which torments us for much of the 5 minutes of the song and even involves the rest of his damn band). Jokes aside, even this fourth track is passable. Just a piece of advice... James I think it's time to change chords...
5 - "Carry You Home" - Here we are finally at the end of the first half of the album, which closes with this wonderful song dedicated to a missing friend (meaning deceased, clear?). I say wonderful because it really is wonderful, but here we feel a strange weight, as if something isn't quite right. And here my appeal becomes a bit more insistent... James damn it, I think it’s really time to change those damn chords... damn... And this is where my nervousness rises steeply... But we're not here to argue, so let's close our eyes, mouths, ears, and any other openings and move on...
6 - "Give Me Some Love" - Don’t be fooled by the first 30 seconds... this is the first lively track on the album since 1973, so don't skip it! I don’t know how he does it... it’s absurd... even in playful choruses, he manages to bring distress. Damn, cheap saloon atmosphere but once again saved at the last moment... there are worse and besides, we have an open mind and appreciate attempts to experiment with both old and new sounds. Hey but something’s wrong... I was totally caught up in the writing... but I feel it... oh damn... 16 crappy seconds from the end of the track... THOSE CHORDS! DAMN!
7 - "I Really Want You" - After the shock, I continue listening, certain there will be no more surprises. But instead... this is one of his old songs that he dusted off and revamped for the occasion. Nice vocal riff and nice idea since here music plays a totally marginal role. However, something comes to mind... a question. Was it really necessary to do it, this song? I mean Blunty, you unjustly cut tracks like 'Breathe' from the CD and we remained silent. But this is too much... really too much. For the future, avoid recycling your own pieces!
8 - "Shine On" - Strategic choice, this eighth track. Without a doubt, it was put here to relax and calm down the listening of the previous fun piece. Nice song, maybe too much in Blunt style but really nice. I’m nearly ready to stick my head in the oven. When there it is. Oh my God, it’s the guitar… and this seems like... no... impossible... it can't be... the guitar is about to lead into an epic and masterful solo with a glorious atmosphere and... no... deflated definitely like a balloon already deflated on its own... no solo... or is my imagination running too fast or someone thought it funny to do it on purpose... to deceive me like this... now my anger is rising...
9 - "Annie" - And just when the situation seems to be dramatically out of control here it appears. Bright as our beloved summer sun O_O here is the ninth song. Nothing new, after all, there’s also an acoustic and piano version in the 1973 single, so what... it even starts like the one from the single, guitar voice, and piano... but then... damn... we find ourselves before a true gem. The most brilliant piece on the album. Stunning exceptional wonderful and I find myself humming with closed eyes and a dreamy look. And it’s over... pity... really excellent...
10 - "I Can't Hear The Music" - And here we are facing the last piece of this bizarre album. The piano in the verse gives me chills, it seems directly out of the twisted mind of Akira Yamaoka (composer of the gloomy and masterful soundtracks of various Silent Hills) but then the frightening atmosphere gradually vanishes and makes room for a big smile and some sighs of relief. Cute, certainly maybe as a last track and grand finale Annie would’ve been better, but still nothing to complain about.
And so ends this pleasant journey through the saddest and loneliest places of the human soul, through much more mature work than the previous album, and it begs the question... isn’t it maybe too mature? God, Blunty, take your hands off the piano and the guitar (the semi-acoustic one)... if this is the result of 6 months in Ibiza, I can’t even imagine what the heck you would have composed if you’d stayed at home. Maybe it's a CD that needs to be digested listen after listen, maybe it’s me who expected too much. Or maybe someone really needs to change profession. And that someone I don't think is me. I'm unemployed.
Anyway I want to trust this enterprising young man and not give up.
Come on, let’s try to turn a blind eye (or pluck it out). His style is unmistakable, and his little voice is even more so. So let’s take this album as a pleasant transitional phase toward better shores. And let’s hope that for the next CD he chooses a slightly less gipsy inspiring destination. Or he will really be forced to find a job. But this time a real job.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 1973 (04:44)
Simona
You're getting older
Your journey's been
Etched on your skin
Simona
Wish I had known that
What seemed so strong
Has been and gone
I would call you up every Saturday night
And we'd both stay out 'til the morning light
And we sang, "Here we go again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
Singing "Here we go again"
Simona
Wish I was sober
So I could see clearly now
The rain has gone
Simona
I guess it's over
My memory plays out to
The same old song
I would call you up every Saturday night
And we'd both stay out 'til the morning light
And we sang, "Here we go again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
Singing "Here we go again"
I would call you up every Saturday night
And we'd both stay out 'til the morning light
And we sang, "Here we go again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
Singing "Here we go again"
I would call you up every Saturday night
And we'd both stay out 'til the morning light
And we sang, "Here we go again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
Singing "Here we go again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
03 I'll Take Everything (03:06)
Oooh, these feet carry me far
Oh, my body, oh so tired
Mouth is dry, hardly speak
Holy Spirit, rise in me
Here I swear
Forever is just a minute to me
And I'll take everything
In this life
I'll join everyone
When I die
Have my body
Have my mind
Have my coat
Take my time
These I borrow
Borrow so far
Turn to dust
Fall apart
Here I swear
Forever is just a minute to me
And I'll take everything
In this life
I'll join everyone
And understand
'Cause all men die
'Cause all men die
And I'll take everything
In this life
I'll join everyone
Since I'm gonna die
I'll take everything
In this life
I'll join everyone
'Cause all men die
04 Same Mistake (04:59)
Saw the world turning in my sheets
And once again I cannot sleep
Walk out the door and up the street
Look at the stars beneath my feet
Remember rights that I did wrong
So here I go
Hello, hello
There is no place I cannot go
My mind is muddy but
My heart is heavy does it show
I lose the track that loses me
So here I go
Oooooh (3x)
And so I sent some men to fight
And one came back at dead of night
Said he'd seen my enemy
Said he looked just like me
So I set out to cut myself
And here I go
Oooooh (3x)
I'm not calling for a second chance
I'm screaming at the top of my voice
Give me reason, but don't give me choice
Cause I'll just make the same mistake again
Oooooh
And maybe someday we will meet
And maybe talk and not just speak
Don't buy the promises cause
There are no promises I keep
And my reflection troubles me
So here I go
Oooooh (3x)
I'm not calling for a second chance
I'm screaming at the top of my voice
Give me reason, but don't give me choice
Cause I'll just make the same mistake...
I'm not calling for a second chance
I'm screaming at the top of my voice
Give me reason, but don't give me choice
Cause I'll just make the same mistake again
Oooooh (3x)
Oooooh, Saw the world turning in my sheets
Oooooh, And once again I cannot sleep
Oooooh, Walk out the door and up the street
Oooooh, Look at the stars
Oooooh, Look at the stars fall down
Oooooh, And I wonder where
Oooooh, Did I go wrong
07 I Really Want You (03:31)
Many prophets preach on bended knee
Many clerics wasted wine
Do the bloodied sheets
On those cobbled streets
Mean I have wasted time
Are there silver shores on paradise
Can I come in from the cold
I killed a man in a far away land
My enemy I'm told
I really want you to really want me
But I really don't know if you can do that
I know you want to know what's right
But I know it's so hard for you to do that
And time's running out as often it does
And often dictates that you can't do that
But fate can't break this feeling inside
That's burning up through my veins
I really want you
I really want you
I really want you now
No matter what I say or do
The message isn’t getting through
And you’re listening to the sound
Of my breaking heart
I really want you
I really want you
Is a poor man rich in solitude
Or will mother earth complain
Did the beggar pray for a sunny day but
Lady luck for rain
They say a million people bow and scrape
To an effigy of gold
I saw life begin
And the ship we're in
And history unfold
I really want you to really want me
But I really don't know if you can do that
I know you want to know what's right
But I know it's so hard for you to do that
And time's running out as often it does
And often dictates that you can't do that
But fate can't break this feeling inside
That's burning up through my veins
I really want you
I really want you
I really want you now
No matter what I say or do
The message isn't getting through
And you're listening to the sound
Of my breaking heart
No matter what I say or do
The message isn't getting through
And you're listening to the sound
Of my breaking heart
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By GrantNicholas
"All The Lost Souls" is a perfectly average work, which does not explain the worldwide chart breakthrough of the English singer-songwriter but neither buries him at the level of any Jesse McCartney (ugh!).
It would be interesting to discover what good James can offer by daring a little more. Thanking him, meanwhile, for not boring us with a new "You’re Beautiful."