Been listening to this CD for the last couple of months. Came out in the UK about a year ago and has been at the top of the charts for the last few. Really really good if you're into singer/songwriters. His voice isn't beautiful but i'd put it in the same league as Damian Rice (whose voice I can't stand but some can). Love his songwriting and melodies. Check it out if you get a chance!
BadlyDrawnBoy
09-26-05, 10:26 AM
He's huge in Europe, and is touring with Jason Mraz this fall.
Beautiful gets released as a single in couple of weeks.
The Bus
09-26-05, 01:13 PM
I've had it for three months now but I am not particularly impressed or stricken with it. Listened to it three or four times, and never seem to want to get into it.
art
09-28-05, 05:47 AM
Blunt is too soppy and all he sings about is love. Boring, boring, boring. Where are the great British acts that made you sit up and listen, the ones that changed music eg The Clash, The Sweet, The Sex Pistols etc etc? Judging from Blunt, British music is going downhill fast.
digitalfreaknyc
09-28-05, 10:38 AM
soppy?? what the hell is soppy? :)
Howiefan
09-28-05, 11:17 AM
He should sing about man on man love! ;)
On a more serious note, i LOVE this album. Been playing it for months and I'm still not tired of it. Really good stuff.
hippie68
02-01-06, 12:57 AM
I just picked this up also and have to say I am impressed. I love the sound of his voice and I think the lyrics are amazing.
wendersfan
02-01-06, 06:41 AM
I heard one of his songs on the radio and it felt like I started growing a vagina.
JAA
02-01-06, 08:20 AM
I heard one of his songs on the radio and it felt like I started growing a vagina.
Having a difficult time getting in touch with your sensitive (feminine) side? -wink-
digitalfreaknyc
02-01-06, 09:19 AM
I heard one of his songs on the radio and it felt like I started growing a vagina.
Ya sure it wasn't growing a much larger asshole?
DullandWitless
02-01-06, 11:46 AM
It's not bad, a few decent tracks - however, every thing sounds the same. :o
digitalfreaknyc
02-01-06, 11:52 AM
Regardless...tix go on sale here in NYC for his 2 shows next month. He sold out pretty quickly last time so hopefully I'll score some this time around.
smw356
02-01-06, 11:53 AM
He's a decent singer I guess but his songwriting is second rate at best. Anyone with a thesaurus can write song after song about lost love or sappy shit like that. Few have been able to take it to another level and write about stuff that is actually meaningful or insightful.
digitalfreaknyc
02-01-06, 12:29 PM
Just got my 4 tickets for Irving Plaza! Definitely looking forward to it. Got a CD of a show he did in Germany and sounds great live.
A.D.D. for DVD
02-01-06, 05:50 PM
I'm still trying to get the image of him staring non-stop into the camera during his performances on SNL... he looked like he was insane.
Ultra-creepy, especially when coupled with him warbling with that soprano voice of his.
smw356
02-01-06, 11:38 PM
Actually I take back some of my previous comment after being force fed the album a little bit more its not as poorly written as my initial reaction indicated. However I do think his writing definately has quite a bit of room for improvement. But the musical arrangements of the songs have definately grown on me a bit.
DrRingDing
02-02-06, 12:39 PM
James Blunt is this year's Maroon 5... their voices even sound the same.
-di doctor-
digitalfreaknyc
02-02-06, 12:42 PM
James Blunt is this year's Maroon 5... their voices even sound the same.
-di doctor-
And ironically, i don't like Maroon 5.
majorjoe23
02-02-06, 12:54 PM
I predict that "Beautiful" song will replace "I'll be Watching You" as the creepy stalker song that dumb couples play for their first dance at weddings.
redhenry
02-05-06, 08:44 PM
He has been popular in the UK and also here in Oz for a while. Quite possibly the most whiny shi.te I've heard in years. Just awful and irritating!
How anyone can listen to it is truly beyond me! Good luck to him and I hope he enjoys his success but I don't get it!
digitalfreaknyc
02-06-06, 12:06 AM
For those that don't want to bash him, he's got a CD/DVD coming out soon.
I personally can't stand his voice. I don't like him at all.
conscience
02-07-06, 05:41 PM
I like his style. I'm definitely into this type of music more than any other.
Yeah, most of his songs have a similar sound and theme - but I don't have a problem with that at all.
Better than a lot of junk that is coming out lately.
neocheddar02
02-13-06, 03:52 AM
I do think his voice, at times, is very Adam Levine/Maroon 5.
I think "No bravery" is a great song and the best song on the album, though "3 wisemen" is a very catchy(read:maroon 5-sounding) song. Other than that, the rest of the songs are good, but not great. I can't wait to hear his next album.
art
02-16-06, 01:38 AM
James Blunt is like Bryan Adams without balls. Similar scratchy voice but, in Blunt's case, a bit higher.
As for the sappy lyrics, God help us. I though British acts were against sappy.
digitalfreaknyc
02-16-06, 09:24 AM
James Blunt is like Bryan Adams without balls. Similar scratchy voice but, in Blunt's case, a bit higher.
As for the sappy lyrics, God help us. I though British acts were against sappy.
Apparently not. He's HUGE over there. He just won the Brit award for best male vocal...with Madonna getting female. ;)
MurraySiskind
02-16-06, 04:01 PM
Apparently not. He's HUGE over there. He just won the Brit award for best male vocal...with Madonna getting female. ;)
Isn't The Mercury Prize the respected music prize in Britain? I think the Brit Awards are like the Grammys or People Choice Awards, not really respected.
Anyway, I have to agree with the people who complain about the lyrics. It's like he took every power ballad cliche and packed them into his songs. Especially that third track where he says,"I've seen you cry, I've seen you smile, I've watched you sleeping for awhile. I'd be the father of your child." I just don't know how as an "artist" you can write lines like that and feel good about yourself. That's just me though.
digitalfreaknyc
02-16-06, 04:48 PM
Anyway, I have to agree with the people who complain about the lyrics. It's like he took every power ballad cliche and packed them into his songs. Especially that third track where he says,"I've seen you cry, I've seen you smile, I've watched you sleeping for awhile. I'd be the father of your child." I just don't know how as an "artist" you can write lines like that and feel good about yourself. That's just me though.
Hell, it's made him a lot of money. I don't think he's bitching.
atlantamoi
02-17-06, 07:15 AM
Listening to this for the first time. After reading some reviews I honestly thought I might like this. There is a fine line between singers who over-emote that I love (Van Morrison) and those who drive me insane (Counting Crows/Live). This is not as bad as those bands, but it's not doing anything for me at all. He reminds me of many of the bands back in the 70's making safe, polite music that you don't hate, but wouldn't walk across the room to purposely turn on. If I'm going to listen to music like this I'd much prefer the similar sounding David Gray. He's touring with Jason Mraz? Perfect coupling.
cungar
02-20-06, 01:51 PM
As Elvis Costello would say he belongs to the 'Fuck me, I'm so sensitive" Jackson Browne school of seduction.
Brent L
02-28-06, 11:56 PM
Chalk me up as someone who not only can't stand James Blunt, but as someone who flat out hates him. How anyone can enjoy this, I'll never understand. It's not even just the music or the vocals. The actual lyrics are some of the worst that I've ever heard before. It's like they totally just used a computer to write it, and picked the rhymes just bases on the most obvious ones that popped up.
While I'm on it, just what in the world is up with the recent trend of singers singing almost entire songs in a falsetto-voice? Thank God I have pretty much given up on music radio.
I found this the other day, a parody of him and his music video for You're Beautiful:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=thtmaZnxk_0
rjw72
03-02-06, 09:51 AM
i like him i think his album is very good really liked 'no bravery' think it draws on his Army experiances in Bosnia. Will be seeing him live tonight
Squirrel God
03-02-06, 05:30 PM
Isn't The Mercury Prize the respected music prize in Britain? I think the Brit Awards are like the Grammys or People Choice Awards, not really respected.
The Mercury is more respected than the Brits but to be honest neither really mean much these days apart from a boost to record sales afterwards due to the publicity.
Over here, it's become en vogue to hate James Blunt. His name has found its way into Cockney rhyming slang. Some radio stations consistently bash him and refuse to play his records. Basically, he just got way too much airplay and got on everyone's nerves. This is why you will have seen Chris Martin from Coldplay reprimanding everyone at the Brits, saying that we all need to stop giving James Blunt a hard time and be proud that he's British.
Give James Blunt enough airplay in the US and it'll probably go the same way.
I like the guy though and I think it's a good debut album. But I tend not to listen to the radio too much because I do get sick of hearing the same records over and over again each day - so I haven't really had any "Blunt overkill".
Tarantino
03-03-06, 02:08 AM
I heard this guy's CD today and I thought at first that it was Rod Stewart.
Then a vagina started growing on me. I turned the CD off and it went away.
Thank god.
= J
digitalfreaknyc
03-13-06, 02:49 PM
To be honest...tickets are going for over $100 each online here in NYC. They sold for $25. I'm really tempted to get rid of mine.
wendersfan
03-13-06, 03:58 PM
Then a vagina started growing on me. I turned the CD off and it went away.:up: :lol:
djbrown
03-14-06, 11:10 AM
I found this the other day, a parody of him and his music video for You're Beautiful:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=thtmaZnxk_0
Is that John Sessions (Whose Line is it anyway, UK edition veteran) as Blunt?
The Bus
03-14-06, 11:56 AM
Tried again, still not getting it. All this does is make me realize how great Damien Rice is. (Or Nick Drake, or...)
Curious if you ever picked up his album or Jose Gonzalez's new one from last year. I'd pick either over Blunt in a second in songwriting, emotion, lyrical content, or musical effect on me.
But then that's just my opinion. Just wondering if you've heard of these guys as well.
wendersfan
03-14-06, 02:47 PM
I've certainly heard of Damien Rice and Nick Drake...
I tried to learn some Nick Drake songs on guitar once. Turns out he uses a bunch of REALLY weird tunings. I just gave up.
LorenzoL
03-14-06, 05:11 PM
I'm guessing that his record label is with WB since his "music" has been featured on some of the WB network shows like Smallville and Beauty and the Geek 2.
digitalfreaknyc
03-14-06, 06:00 PM
Tried again, still not getting it. All this does is make me realize how great Damien Rice is.
Damian Rice's voice reminds me of a cat being strangled by a vulture and dropped out of a tree.
digitalfreaknyc
03-15-06, 09:13 AM
And so I didn't end up going last night. I was offered $250 for 2 tickets that I paid $30 each for. You have no idea the prices that people were paying for these tickets here in NYC. And that was "the norm."
atlantamoi
03-15-06, 10:16 AM
Yeah, I think I'd give up my tix for that price on an act I liked.
digitalfreaknyc
03-15-06, 10:21 AM
Yeah, I think I'd give up my tix for that price on an act I liked.
I seriously needed the money and I've kinda gotten tired of him. I haven't listened to the CD in a very long time...and he's performing the same day at Coachella that Madonna is...and since I'll be there anyway....baddah bing!
AndyCleveland
03-15-06, 05:25 PM
just picked up a single ticket on ebay to the sold-out cleveland show for $10. it's 2nd row pit. i dont know how this didnt get a higher bid other than the fact that it's a single ticket. not a big fan but some friends are going so should be ok. not to mention, they paid $160 per seat and are 13 rows behind me.
wendersfan
03-23-06, 04:00 PM
Don't know how old this is, but it's too funny not to post<a href = "http://musicnews.virgin.net/Virgin/Lifestyle/Music/virginMusicNewsDetail/0,13556,1086859_music,00.html"><b>Blunt high on helium say Gorillaz</a></b>
Damon Albarn's cartoon band Gorillaz have joined a host of stars from the music world in bashing James Blunt. The band have also revealed their hopes for a world tour, but not until 2008.
Gorillaz are currently promoting their latest album 'Demon Days'
In the bizarre attack, Murdoc from the band labelled Blunt a <b>"scruffy helium inhaling dwarf".</b>
Not content with attacking his dress sense and vocals, Murdoc continued condemning Blunt's music as being like "porridge".
As for the world tour, no concrete plans have been laid as yet, but having previously scrapped the idea due to massive costs, it would now appear that the show could be back on the road.
However, a tour of global proportions would still have to wait until 2008.
:lol:rotfl:lol:
digitalfreaknyc
03-23-06, 05:06 PM
Don't know how old this is, but it's too funny not to post
:lol:rotfl:lol:
0/5
it's not even witty or original...especially coming from a cartoon band.
Brent L
03-24-06, 08:41 PM
Tried again, still not getting it. All this does is make me realize how great Damien Rice is. (Or Nick Drake, or...)
Now Damien Rice, him I like.
clckworang
03-27-06, 10:44 PM
I noticed this thread and just had to weigh in on this topic. Now, I don't listen to the radio at all and don't watch MTV or VH1 or any other music station or program. And yet, I am sick to death of that "Beautiful" song! I have just heard it over and over and over again, and I didn't even really like it the first 500 times I heard it. It seems like I can't turn on the TV without hearing it on some TV show or commercial.
In fairness, I haven't listened to his CD or anything. I think Beautiful is the only song of his that I have heard. But I found it to be so annoying and unremarkable that I just couldn't bring myself to buy his album or pursue listening to it.
musick
03-27-06, 11:27 PM
I heard this guy's CD today and I thought at first that it was Rod Stewart.
Then a vagina started growing on me. I turned the CD off and it went away.
Thank god.
= J
LOL (despite the possibility of ripping on some good old school Rod/Faces music)
listen to and watch the 'State Of The Union' video by David Ford to grow your penis back
http://davidford.mu/go.php?object=music_and_video
Giles
03-27-06, 11:49 PM
I noticed this thread and just had to weigh in on this topic. Now, I don't listen to the radio at all and don't watch MTV or VH1 or any other music station or program. And yet, I am sick to death of that "Beautiful" song! I have just heard it over and over and over again, and I didn't even really like it the first 500 times I heard it. It seems like I can't turn on the TV without hearing it on some TV show or commercial.
In fairness, I haven't listened to his CD or anything. I think Beautiful is the only song of his that I have heard. But I found it to be so annoying and unremarkable that I just couldn't bring myself to buy his album or pursue listening to it.
I agree.
LivingINClip
03-28-06, 12:49 AM
I aquired the album and I don't think it is *that* bad. I like to think of it as 'Damien Rice Lite'. ;)
Buy: