Back to Bedlam

Love all the songs

I love James Blunt's music!!! My youngest sister found out about him last year when he's still barely known in the US. She told me she just heard this person with the most unique and wonderful voice. You must know that my sister is very hungry for new sound, she's tired of what's currently playing in the radio. After she heard JB, she searched him & found his video "You're Beautiful." She introduced me to JB's music & all 3 of us sisters got hooked. We were very fortunate to actually see him live in concert in Warfield, SF on April 6th, and I must confess that it was the time of our lives. We'were practically 2 feet away from him. We stood the whole concert for the whole 5 hours, plus the wait outside the venue, but we didn't mind :)Back to reviewing this CD...what can I say is just I LOVE every song.HIGH--is JB's way of describing how he felt watching the rising sun. According to JB, the inspiration came to him after staying late at night and witnessing the dawn. It's very uplifting.YOU're BEAUTIFUL--I'm sure everybody knows about this by now. It's his first single & video in the US. The song is very simple, but very addicting. I don't know why. It may seem simple, but it's actually hard to sing to it. I love this song.WISEMEN--very fun & catchy song. I love the part, where he ask, "Where are you now?"GOODBYE MY LOVER--according to JB, it is the most personal song for him. He recorded it in the bathroom of Carrie Fisher (Actress) in Los Angeles, where she actually keeps a grand piano. During his concert, he pours his heart when singing this song, and I got teary-eyed. I was overwhelmed by this song.TEARS & RAIN--is my favorite! This is the song, which I can totally connect with James. To me it's about looking deep inside you, surveying your inner feelings & thoughts about life and the present time. My favorite lines are:"How I wish I could walk through the doors of my mind;Hold memory close at hand,Help me understand the years.How I wish I could choose between Heaven and Hell. How I wish I would save my soul.I'm so cold from fear. I guess it's time I run far, far away; find comfort in pain,All pleasure's the same: it just keeps me from trouble.Hides my true shape, like Dorian Gray."OUT OF MY MIND--is another catchy & fast song. love the lyrics: Judging by the look on the organ grinder,He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit.It's touching that the MONKEY sits on my shoulder. James using the "Monkey King" in his logo. There is a great story behind that monkey :pSO LONG JIMMY--great lyrics & music. One of the highlight in JB's concert. He just love performing this song. What've heard this is dedicated to the famous JIMs Morrison & Hendrix. As you may know, James is also Jimmy. I guess James is trying to compare his humble self & songwriting skills to the famous JIMs.BILLY--is about a prodigal son. According JB, he wrote this song for Billy, an irresponsible friend :) who owes him money and who's now in-charge of website: jamesblunt.com. Billy is really a coold guy!!CRY--another favorite of mind. This song is just like talking to a friend while trying to help her open up and speak to you. It's about friendship & sharing during those dificult time.NO BRAVERY--a very emotional song not just for James but to the listeners. This is based on his experience as a soldier in Kosovo war. In concert, he plays the piano with great intensity and variety of emotions. You can hear in the song what he's feeling...sadness, fear, fury, disappointment,etc. I can't forget James's eyes and face when he sang this, as if he's reliving the war again. It breaks my heart, but what a release!!!

Love this album!

I don't fully understand all the hype surrounding this album - nor why people are putting James Blunt down for not being the next Damien Rice, Nick Drake, etc. OK - James Blunt is definitely not as innovative or fiercely raw as Damien Rice! But Blunt has a unique sound, his lyrics are actually interesting and insightful, and I don't know what more I expect from a debut album. If everyone were Damien Rice, then Damien Rice would be boring - right?I have enjoyed this album, as an entire album, more than any other I've purchased since Damien Rice's "O" and Joseph Arthur's "Redemption's Son" (both of which I consider 5 star albums).I usually end up making my own mixes on iTunes because listening to one artist gets monotonous; it's unusual for me to find entire albums that have a consistently listenable mix of tempos, subjects, and sounds. some of these songs are catchy in the classic pop mode ("Wise" Men, for example), others are more quiet and restful. It's a pleasantly varied, mellow mix--if I have to compare it to any other recent albums in that respect, I think it's a lot like Howie Day's "Stop All The World Now" (with the song "Collide"). It cohabitates in the cd changer well with Coldplay. It doesn't do well with Sigur Ros or Black Eyed Peas. It just depends on the mood of the day.Whether you also enjoy this album will depend on what you want out of it - if you expect it to be the next huge innovation in folk rock, I think you'll be disappointed. But if you enjoy "You're Beautiful" (at least, if you did before the radio played it to death), I think you will like the rest of "Back to Bedlam".

i do like this artist works

James Blunt may have been overplayed, but when you listen to this entire album, you get why. The level of talent displayed is way above what most "artists" in pop music could ever even hope for. The image he got in the media and pop music scene isn't really who he is, and through the lyrics, that becomes obvious. There are curse words and drug references, so if you just like the radio versions of his singles, you may not want to buy this album. However, if a little honesty in his lyrics won't bother you, the music is incredible. Every song is amazing, and the balance between vocals and instruments is perfect. The songs don't sound the same, but they are cohesive, and the album flows nicely from start to finish. There is a mix of emotions as well. The album begins on a note of hope and happiness, and toward the end there are some sad songs. Beautiful, beautiful music (pun intended).

Well Done James!!This is not a rock or Hip Hop album.. if that is what you want.. try some where else..This is a return to Dylan or Cat Stevens perhaps James Taylor?It can be a bit "sameish" sounding by the time you get to the end of the album, but then so many albulms can be.I really enjoy all the songs, 10 tracks in total.This is a dedicated and earnest musician, definitly has his own sound, you can't mix him up with anyone else (not that Ive heard anyway).This is a quality album, the more I play it the better it gets! Great poetry and story telling, high with emotion, well arranged musically, esentially with a guitar, keyboard and voice(s).. simple yet very effective.The tracks "Your Beautiful" and "Goodbye my Lover" are already "hits" with more hits to come of this album I am sure!Listen (really listen!) and enjoy :)