There's a big difference between people who choose Miami Beach as opposed to Nauset Beach for a relaxing vacation; there's also a big difference between people who choose to regularly grab some down time instead of pushing themselves to the limit.
I admit I'm a sucker for guys with guitars, cool voices. big hearts and no patience for the ordinary. Enter Damien Rice, David Grey, a young John Mayer and the most recent dude, James Blunt. I'm a little embarrassed, however, to say the first time I saw this guy was on Saturday Night Live back in November - the folks in the U.K. had spent the entire summer with him, lucky bastards. But continuing with the theme of the week, I was quite thankful to have stumbled upon him just the same.
His voice was a bit reminiscent of a guy from the Massachusetts folk scene, Ellis Paul, but with so much more depth to it: James sang it from his gut. His demeanor that night was stunning, but what grabbed me was the intensity with which he belted out the vocals. During the course of the next week I read every piece of information I could about James and his debut album, Back to Bedlam: I found it kind of odd that everyone seemed to be more focused on his experience in the Kosovo army and less about how amazing the album actually was.
Yes, he's a young British guy with a lot of life experiences under his belt but what's most important and blatantly obvious is his passion to write about them as they pertain to life outside the war zone. You would never know he wrote some of the tunes inside his tent with the boots on and gun close by. What sets Back to Bedlam aside from so many albums created out of duress is James choosing to write from his heart, not his head.
So I'm thinking that if you have to choose Miami Beach for your next vacation, you might want to bring along Back to Bedlam - a little sanity is what you'll need and James Blunt is all over that.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
a bit reminiscent of a guy from the Massachusetts folk scene, Ellis Paul, but with so much more depth to it
ouch...i hear that the other way around.
2 - J. P. Spencer
Someone actually likes this guy? I saw him perform on Conan O'Brien a few months ago and swore off of him permanently.
Like you said, the press seems to be pushing him because he used to serve in Kosovo, as if there's some kind of unwritten rule that says ex-soldiers make great musicians. His voice to me has vocal similarities more to the level of Roland Gift of Fine Young Cannibals than any contemporary "Folk" (as if there even is such a thing anymore) artist, and to my ears that's a bad thing.
If I ever DO end up in Miami Beach, I've obviously been kidnapped and the authorities need to be alerted.
3 - James Blunt Sucks Ass
i hate him, he is very dull. ppl compare him to Bob Dylan but i dont agree.
Bob Dylan was a hell of a lot better than James Blunt.
I want Blunt and his stupid whiney voice to never make another record.
Every time he opens his mouth and makes that awful, unholy sound he called music i think rotten eggs and objects to be pelted at him.
4 - Silas Kain
Oh come on now. He's as cute as a button and his voice reminds me of Tiny Tim.
5 - reggie von woic
I'm trying to imagine a "drop and give me 50" in a high pitched voice.....
6 - Silas Kain
Ever been to a gay bar? You'll hear it there.
7 - reggie von woic
LOL!
...and no, i haven't.
8 - Jodie
I am a thirty-something married woman (to give you the demographic) I loved this CD! He is a little on the skinny side but they all can't look like a model. The writing reminds me a little like John Mayer. To show I am diverse, I also purchased Nickelback on the same day!
9 - The Aural Douchebag
I can't stop singing You're Beautiful. As loud as I can.
10 - sexy bitch
James blunt is the best i cant believe you guys can dis him.. if you dont like james blunt you are mentally retarded!!
11 - steve
"James blunt is the best i cant believe you guys can dis him.. if you dont like james blunt you are mentally retarded!! "
This from somebody calling themselves 'SexyBitch' - speaks volumes.
Blunt is a non talent who had a hit, well done him and everyone concerned but that is no reason to suggest he's any good. He is not. He is less than average.
12 - Joel
"I am a thirty-something married woman (to give you the demographic) I loved this CD! He is a little on the skinny side but they all can't look like a model. The writing reminds me a little like John Mayer. To show I am diverse, I also purchased Nickelback on the same day!"
That kind of says it all. James Blunt, John Mayer and Nickelack are probably three of the worst ten popular artists of our time.
13 - TC8trax
James Blunt is an Ass-Monkey, singing a banal, lame and shit-laden song. Those who enjoy this white-bread aural waste of time are apparently brain-dead!
14 - Dan
"I am a thirty-something married woman (to give you the demographic) I loved this CD! He is a little on the skinny side but they all can't look like a model. The writing reminds me a little like John Mayer. To show I am diverse, I also purchased Nickelback on the same day!"
And therein lies the downfall of our society. Music nowadays sucks ass
15 - someonewhohatesjamescunt
mentally retarded ?????
i think your got many disorders to like that shit , he cant write music for shit .....hes overplayed over the Radio......GET A TASTE IN MUSIC!!!!
16 - Debbie
James's Back to Bedlam is his emotions, thoughts and feelings in such a poetic form. This is true music, true art...not some manufactured music that's meant to pump up the airways. He wrote Back to Bedlam for himself and he continues to stay true to himself. What's amazing is that 9+ million other people have found it works for them as well. I agree that many tracks that are so wonderful have been overlooked ..such as "Tears and Rain" and "So Long Jimmy". The naysayers should actually listen to the whole thing before they make snap judgments.