James Blunt - Back To Bedlam (CD 2005)

Some ageing rockstar once said that what he feared most, in a musical sense, was the songwriting well running dry. That's something that's unlikely ever to worry James Blunt. He has, it can be said without exaggeration, lived a life that should provide enough material for a dozen albums, with sufficient left over for a couple of screenplays. Sure - that's what all the singer-songwriters say. But this is a definitively different singer-songwriter.

Take "No Bravery", the song that closes his debut album, "Back to Bedlam", for instance: It was written in Kosovo in 1999, while James was a reconnaissance officer in the British army. On patrol around Pristina, he kept his guitar bolted to the outside of his tank. But in quieter moments, it came out, as he wrote about life as a 22-year-old peacekeeper in the aftermath of one of the decade's bloodiest civil wars. The rest of his unit ordered him to keep the noise down as he wrote and sang in the post-midnight stillness. He didn't keep the noise down. "'No Bravery' is the only complete song I wrote in Kosovo. I wrote it lying by my tank in my sleeping bag with my boots on. You had to sleep with your boots on. The song is pretty fatalistic. The rest of the album is fatalistic," he says wryly.

But his Kosovan experience is only one aspect of a new artist who's destined to find his way into a lot of record collections. Essentially, James is a find - an old soul who's somehow unafflicted by cynicism, a young writer who sounds likes he's been doing this for years, an angelic voice who's had a heck of a ride.

Back to Bedlam is one of those cd’s that you overplay once you get it, knowing that you will burn it out and have to retire it but you just don’t care. If you are one of those people that likes to have a soundtrack for life, reserve this one for cold pensive days, or when you want to take a quick shot of emotional truth to make the mundane fade away. Currently, “Goodbye My Lover”, “Tears and Rain” and the final track “No Bravery” have me wondering and imagining the lyrical history of these tracks. My favorite is still “No Bravery” after listening to the entire album a few times, but the smooth anthem “High” is gaining ground quickly.

Back to Bedlam is a refreshing record, but one that will draw both fans and haters. You will most likely immediately put it into your top 6 disc rotation or get sick of the English lullaby tunes and throw it out the window. Either way, it is worth a listen – you can decide for yourself but I believe you will be seeing grammy nods thrown at Mr. Blunt left and right in the year to come.

I bought this album for my daughter who is at the age where another overhyped ballad singer/songwriter can brainwash children and the gullible (you know who you are just check out your C/D rack I bet you are nodding off just thinking about it) into thinking oooh!! if its on C/D UK and TOTP and No.1 it must be good. It's not good It's boring and mind numbing and they are everywhere you turn at the moment eg. Daniel Powter, Jack Johnson, Jamie Cullum for starters. My daughter didn't listen to the whole album and I breathed a sigh of relief to hear Mcfly and Greenday rocking our roost again. Next year I will see rows of this album in the charity shops and at car boot sales, all in near mint condition for £1.99 and ebay will be flooded with them.
One thing though I gave it an extra point because it makes a change from over pretentious American Bling! Bling! rap artists hogging the charts.

I bought this album at the beginning of June, its been played numerous times everyday without fail and i'm still not tired of it.

James' lyrics are meaningful and moving, his voice beautiful, this album is a joy to listen to.

If you look at you cd collection, what's in there that you know nearly everyone else will have too? Maybe a Madonna album, oasis, queen, michael jackson... and in years to come, James Blunt Back to Bedlam!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing James to any of the great kings or queens of music .... yet!
This album is heartfelt and beautiful without being mushy. Each song is worth listeing to over and over again, wise men, high and goodbye my lover are strokes of pure genius. How you can compare this man's amazing talent to the likes of Daniel Powter and Jamie Cullum is way beyond me.
Just lie back and listen carefully to this album, listen to every individual word and you'll see why this album will eventually be an all time great! No way will back to bedlam EVER be in the bargain basement of any music shop.

After being over played on the radio, James Blunt is becoming very anoughing, but if you can hack listen to beatiful again, you will love this album as everysong is different and worth repeat play mode on.

I thought the single "Beautiful" beings to grate with it's overplay on commercial radio, but I bought this album for the track "Wisemen" & "Out of My Mind"

What I didn't see coming was "No Bravery". to the reviewer on page 1 who says Blunt is an upper class twonk who's had a sheltered life - you need to listen and read more. Fact is, Blunt has seen active military service, which is more than most of his listeners.
My cousin & I have, and there no way an "upper class twonk" with a sheltered life can write lyrics with such genuine feeling and reality.

If you want sugar-coated pop, then "Back to Bedlam" isn't for you. If you like a slightly gritty reality in your music, exposing some of our own weaknesses, a reminder of what it means to be human, then buy this album.

i love everything about this cd, i think it has to be the best music cd i have bought in the last 3 months

You know how with some albums you tend to listen to the tracks you know, maybe listen to the whole album if you can be bothered, but then tend to just stick on the ones you've heard on the radio? Well there's no chance of that with this album!!
Every track is a masterpiece! I was very sceptical about this album as 'You're Beautiful' was played to death on the radio which is never a good introduction to a new artist, but the album has changed my view on the squeaky young singer and the album is now one of my firm favourites! I'm now personally playing to death tracks like 'High' and 'Wisemen' but I've played them about 1000 times each and I'm still not fed up with them!! ;o)

i really really love this album... spilling with amazing songs by an amazing singer... a real great cd that in the right frame of mind is a real tear jerker...a song for every emotion i love it!!!!!!

I think this album is brilliant, I hate the way some people have given it a bad review just because his music isn't their cup of tea. I’m sorry but he's a fabulous musician and a fantastic artist. If you're thinking about buying this album, I ask myself why haven't you all ready got it?
You must have heard at least one song to make you interested in the album, so it's more than worth taking the time out to hear the rest.
Normally when I buy an album there's always one song you don’t like and skip. But I can listen to his album from start to finish and then over again.
Just really listening to the words, most of the songs you can sympathise with. It's like he's been watching your life and decided to write his songs about things you have been through.
Two of my favourite songs are "Goodbye My Lover" and "Tears and Rain" but I still can’t choose which song off the album is the best.
A must have for all those rainy day moments in your life.

It's o.k. Not brilliant, overhyped. Not sure why he threw in the swear words? It doesn't suit the tone of the tracks and really doesn't suit him! It's as if he is trying to say "don't pigeonhole me I can be bad mother!"

Terrible album i think hes led a very sheltered life.Typical middle upper class twonk sounding not unlike a castrated animal.Steer clear or listen at your peril and dont buy it please have my copy....

I have listened to this album and i really dont like it at all, it is so boring and depressing, in my opinion it is not worth buying.

What the hell!!!! Rubbish artist (and the word 'musician' is stretching it!) - sounds like a sheep with constipation.

Too many so called 'cool' artists ... you know the type, anything mainstream and they're on it like a pack of hungry dogs, tearing it to shreds ... think 'Oasis' here (who I love by the way!). James is the finest 'new' British songwriter for a long time ... every song on here is a gem, written with such warmth that you get drawn into the tunes. I have had this since early 2005, even managing to meet James at an early gig in Whelans in Dublin (he's a nice guy too!) ... canot wait for new material now, even tho' this is still on heavy rotation. Mr Gallagher? You just wish you were still writing like this!

After listening to my friends playing the album over and over I bought myself a copy and now listen to it nearly everyday. You can't compare this to rubbish like Jamie Cullum - its a different type of music completely. Track 4 is genius! Not my usual taste in music - my favourites include Madonna and The Manic Street Preachers. James Blunt is not just for teenyboppers (they can keep Westlife and the usual "Bling" repetative junk) or the middle aged like these other reviews claim. As I said, listen to track 4, "Goodbye my lover" and you'll understand why this is still such a popular album.

I bought this purely because I loved 'beautiful' so much and I heard rave reviews about it. I loved it straight away and love it more each time I hear it - it is practically the only album I listen to at the moment and I just play it over and over again. I agree with another of the reviews - watch out for the swear words - I have to quickly turn the volume down in a couple of places if I'm listening to it in the car with the kids. This is basically an album I could listen to in the dark all the way through and would recommend it to anyone.

I bought it after hearing the single way back at the beginning of the year and when I tried to buy it nobody knew what I was talking about. Look at him now!

This is by far one of the best albums i've bought in a LONG time! It just ROCKS! Here are what i think of the songs:

High - Beautiful song, really stands out as different and totally shows off his voice.

You're Beautiful - In my opinion it is the weakest song on the Album but is still amazing as gives you that funny gooey feeling inside.

Wisemen - Amazing song, great lyrics

Goodbye my lover - at first i didnt like this song but it is a grower and a real tear jerker.

Tears and rain - at one point it was my favourite song on the album but i made the mistake of overplaying it. It is still one of the best though

Out of My Mind - This song is a bit more rock than the rest but it is still very good but needs a few listens to really get into it.

So long Jimmy - At first when i saw the title i laughed but trust me this is not a song to be laughed at

Billy - My favourite song on this album at the moment. Great Song.

Cry - Beautiful song it really does make you, yes, cry

No bravery - I love this song because number 1 it is a good song in itself and also because it has a real meaning and isnt your average love song. This song made me cry when i first heard it.

If you love this stuff buy chasing times which has three extra songs which are just as good as all of these.

Overall it is a 5/5 album GO OUT AND BUY IT!!!!!!!

i think this cd that james blunt has done is so fab because he has put hes heart and soul in to it if any one ask me what i would give it out of 1000 i would say 1000

Fantastic album,he has lived his life and it shows in the music,even tho its had radio overplay -its a must buy

This album is brillant, the first time that i heard it i was hooked every song has a meaning for James it is calming relaxing and just pure brillance. I would really highly recommend this to anyone that is thinking of buying the album.

I don't usually listen to this type of music, but i kept hearing it on tv and it got quite catchy, so I bought this and got to admit it's a really great album and i play it very much, he's a great singer with a different style and his songs can be quite meaningful.