James Blunt - Back To Bedlam (Ltd) (CD)

All Music Guide

Soulful British crooner James Blunt's wistful debut infuses the listener in order with rainyday hope, the wistful comfort of unattainable love, and finally, worldweary resignation. While his parched and effeminate falsetto recalls Gasoline Alleyera Rod Stewart with a healthy dose of Antony and the Johnsons, it's the late Elliott Smith who casts the largest shadow on Back to Bedlam. Predictable but effective fourchord guitar motifs are the chosen vehicle for the exRoyal Armed Forces soldier, and when they connect ("Wiseman," "Goodbye My Lover," "You Are Beautiful"), it's like a "Dear John" letter from a lover who you know will remain a close but ultimately guarded friend. Opening track "High" sets a determined midtempo pace that rarely wanes it's like an acoustic version of "Drive" by the Cars with a Coldplay chorus. It's a pace that would sink some records, but Bedlam's perfectly rendered, under 40minute run time ensures that the listener doesn't suffer from a melancholy overdose. B...lunt recounts his harrowing experiences as part of the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo on the closer, "No Bravery," and it's a shock to hear all of the romantic lyricism that informed Bedlam up to this point reduced to "Old men kneel and accept their fate/Wives and daughters cut and raped/A generation drenched in hate," but it's damn effective as is the majority of this fine debut. - James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide Read more Less