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For as big a hit as it was, "You're Beautiful" wasn't necessarily representative of what kind of a singer/songwriter James Blunt is. It wasn't necessarily inaccurate, but it was misleading, suggesting that all this tremulously tuneful singer/songwriter wants to do is be sensitive -- that he aimed himself squarely at the middle of the road, crafting gentle music for housewives. That's not quite the case, as his 2007 sophomore effort, All the Lost Souls, makes plain. Surely, Blunt is wholly mainstream, a slicker, spirited variation on David Gray's elegantly upscale folk-pop, but he's not crassly commercial, deciding to disregard the path toward stultifying adult contemporary -- a path that "You're Beautiful" certainly pointed toward -- but he's also choosing to not write happy, harmless pop like Daniel Powter, still dwelling on moody, introspective midtempos. In other words, he still adheres to the Gray template the second time around, but he opens things up slightly with some spacy textures reminiscent of Coldplay and a heavy dose of classic popcraft, learned equally from Elton John, David Bowie, and Paul McCartney. Oddly, the sum total of these influences turns Blunt into the heir to that forgotten strain of wimpy, wispy songwriter-driven British pop of the '70s embodied by such once-stars as Al Stewart, Leo Sayer, and Gilbert O'Sullivan. The ghost of Gilbert echoes throughout "One of the Brightest Stars," and while this allusion is quite likely inadvertent, it also doesn't seem to be a coincidence that the opening song (and first single) on All the Lost Souls is a song that celebrates "1973," because much of this album feels like it could have been recorded and released during that mid-'70s heyday of sensitive pop. The main difference is not the clean, modern production with its slight digital flourishes -- things that push the rhythms forward on "Give Me Some Love," one of the livelier moments here -- but that Blunt isn't some quivering bedsit bard; he's the babe who enthusiastically shed his clothes in the "You're Beautiful" video, somebody whose confidence infuses his brokenhearted laments and makes them feel not quite so melancholy. This makes All the Lost Souls soothing, not haunting, and it also removes many of the quirks that distinguished '70s albums by McCartney, O'Sullivan, Sayer, and Elton, so this won't quite seduce that kind of pop fan (although this may hold more interest for them than they might initially think), nor will it win over anybody who can't quite get past the garbled, strangled soul affections of his voice, which remains his greatest liability -- but it will seduce anybody already won over by his 2005 debut, Back to Bedlam, since it's a tighter, more assured record than that. But chances are, they were seduced by Blunt already.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Mark Batson, Writer - Tom Rothrock, Mixer, MixingEngineer - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Electric Guitar, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer, Pump Organ, MainArtist - Don Tyler, MasteringEngineer - Malcolm Moore, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Hammond Organ, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals - R. Walt Vincent, Digital Editor
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Rothrock, Mixer, MixingEngineer - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Karl Brazil, Drums, Backing Vocals - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Piano, Vibraphone, Lead Vocals, Writer, Pump Organ, MainArtist - Don Tyler, MasteringEngineer - Malcolm Moore, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Hammond Organ, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals - Steve McEwan, Writer - R. Walt Vincent, Digital Editor
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Rothrock, Producer, MixingEngineer - Suzie Katayama, Strings - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Don Tyler, MasteringEngineer - Malcolm Moore, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Strings - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Hammond Organ, Backing Vocals - Eg White, Writer - R. Walt Vincent, Digital Editor
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Rothrock, Mixer, MixingEngineer - Suzie Katayama, Strings - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Malcolm Moore, Bass Guitar - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Piano - R. Walt Vincent, Digital Editor
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Max Martin, Writer - Tom Rothrock, Mixer, MixingEngineer - Suzie Katayama, Strings - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Don Tyler, MasteringEngineer - Malcolm Moore, Bass Guitar - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Hammond Organ - Mr. Nau, Piano - R. Walt Vincent, Digital Editor
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Rothrock, Mixer, MixingEngineer - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Don Tyler, MasteringEngineer - Malcolm Moore, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Hammond Organ, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals - R. Walt Vincent, Digital Editor
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Ben Castle, Guitar - Jimmy Hogarth, Producer, Additional Guitar, Additional Percussion, Additional Programmer - Jeremy Wheatley, MixingEngineer - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Dixon, Additional Programmer - James Blunt, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Paul Beard, Piano, Backing Vocals - Oliver Kraus, Strings - Richard Edgeler, Assistant Mixing Engineer - John Garrison, Bass Guitar - Pierre-Olivier Margerand, Engineer
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2008 Atlantic Recording Corp. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tom Rothrock, Producer, MixingEngineer - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Don Tyler, MasteringEngineer - Malcolm Moore, Bass Guitar - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Piano - R. Walt Vincent, Digital Editor
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Rothrock, Producer, MixingEngineer - Jimmy Hogarth, Writer - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Don Tyler, MasteringEngineer - Malcolm Moore, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Hammond Organ, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals - R. Walt Vincent, Digital Editor
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Rothrock, Mixer, MixingEngineer - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Vibraphone, Lead Vocals, Writer, 12 String Guitar, Pump Organ, MainArtist - Don Tyler, MasteringEngineer - Malcolm Moore, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Hammond Organ, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals - R. Walt Vincent, Digital Editor
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Rothrock, Producer - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar - Karl Brazil, Drums, Backing Vocals - James Blunt, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Paul Beard, Organ, Hammond B3 Organ - John Garrison, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - Eg White, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Writer - Tom Elmhirst, MixingEngineer
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Coporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
James Lea, Writer - Neville Holder, Writer - Tom Rothrock, Producer, MixingEngineer - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar - Karl Brazil, Drums - James Blunt, Piano, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - John Garrison, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
J. Smith, AssistantProducer - Ben Castle, Guitar, Backing Vocals - Andy Rogers, Producer - Nick Fountain, AssistantProducer - James Blunt, Guitar, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Paul Beard, Piano, Backing Vocals - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Peter Moren, Writer
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Rothrock, MixingEngineer - Ben Castle, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Karl Brazil, Drums, Backing Vocals - James Blunt, Vocals, MainArtist - Paul Beard, Organ, Backing Vocals - John Garrison, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals - RICK DAVIES, Writer - ROGER HODGSON, Writer
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Tom Rothrock, Producer, Mixer - Ben Castle, Guitar - Karl Brazil, Drums - Sam Holland, AssistantEngineer - James Blunt, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Don Tyler, Masterer - Malcolm Moore, Guitar, Vocals, Bass - Mike Tarantino, Engineer - Paul Beard, Organ, Vocals
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
Max Martin, Writer - James Blunt, Writer, MainArtist - Malcolm Moore, Bass
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2008 Atlantic Recording Corp. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
James Blunt, Writer, MainArtist - Malcolm Moore, Bass - Eg White, Writer
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2008 Atlantic Recording Corp. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
James Blunt, Writer, MainArtist - Malcolm Moore, Bass
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2008 Atlantic Recording Corp. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
James Blunt, Writer, MainArtist - Malcolm Moore, Bass - Steve McEwan, Writer
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2008 Atlantic Recording Corp. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
James Blunt, Writer, MainArtist - Malcolm Moore, Bass
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2008 Atlantic Recording Corp. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
DADO PARISINI, Producer - CHEOPE, Lyricist - Laura Pausini, Lyricist, MainArtist - James Blunt, Lyricist, FeaturedArtist, With Vocals - Daniel Vuletic, Composer
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2008 Warner Music Italia Srl
Album review
For as big a hit as it was, "You're Beautiful" wasn't necessarily representative of what kind of a singer/songwriter James Blunt is. It wasn't necessarily inaccurate, but it was misleading, suggesting that all this tremulously tuneful singer/songwriter wants to do is be sensitive -- that he aimed himself squarely at the middle of the road, crafting gentle music for housewives. That's not quite the case, as his 2007 sophomore effort, All the Lost Souls, makes plain. Surely, Blunt is wholly mainstream, a slicker, spirited variation on David Gray's elegantly upscale folk-pop, but he's not crassly commercial, deciding to disregard the path toward stultifying adult contemporary -- a path that "You're Beautiful" certainly pointed toward -- but he's also choosing to not write happy, harmless pop like Daniel Powter, still dwelling on moody, introspective midtempos. In other words, he still adheres to the Gray template the second time around, but he opens things up slightly with some spacy textures reminiscent of Coldplay and a heavy dose of classic popcraft, learned equally from Elton John, David Bowie, and Paul McCartney. Oddly, the sum total of these influences turns Blunt into the heir to that forgotten strain of wimpy, wispy songwriter-driven British pop of the '70s embodied by such once-stars as Al Stewart, Leo Sayer, and Gilbert O'Sullivan. The ghost of Gilbert echoes throughout "One of the Brightest Stars," and while this allusion is quite likely inadvertent, it also doesn't seem to be a coincidence that the opening song (and first single) on All the Lost Souls is a song that celebrates "1973," because much of this album feels like it could have been recorded and released during that mid-'70s heyday of sensitive pop. The main difference is not the clean, modern production with its slight digital flourishes -- things that push the rhythms forward on "Give Me Some Love," one of the livelier moments here -- but that Blunt isn't some quivering bedsit bard; he's the babe who enthusiastically shed his clothes in the "You're Beautiful" video, somebody whose confidence infuses his brokenhearted laments and makes them feel not quite so melancholy. This makes All the Lost Souls soothing, not haunting, and it also removes many of the quirks that distinguished '70s albums by McCartney, O'Sullivan, Sayer, and Elton, so this won't quite seduce that kind of pop fan (although this may hold more interest for them than they might initially think), nor will it win over anybody who can't quite get past the garbled, strangled soul affections of his voice, which remains his greatest liability -- but it will seduce anybody already won over by his 2005 debut, Back to Bedlam, since it's a tighter, more assured record than that. But chances are, they were seduced by Blunt already.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 21 track(s)
- Total length: 01:25:06
- Main artists: James Blunt
- Composer: Daniel Vuletic
- Label: Atlantic Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. All Rights Reserved.
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