Jimmy Hype? (Undiscovered - James Morrison)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	Undiscovered - James Morrison
Date:	20/04/09 (319 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some really good tracks.

Disadvantages: Gets boring!

James Morrison - Undiscovered (2006)

Having realised that I had at least two James Morrison songs from this album already, I recently took the plunge and bought the rest of the album on iTunes on their 'complete my album' function.

This guy is extremely talented without doubt, plays guitar, sings and writes his own songs, he wrote or co wrote every song on this hugely successful debut album (over 2 million Worldwide).

He has (since this album) collaborated with a number of other singers such as Nelly Furtado and Jason Mraz, his soulful style blending easily with others. His voice is a little husky, a little soulful, a little folksy, but certainly recognisable.


~~The Tracks~~

1. Under the Influence
The opening track is a nice soul/gospel/pop song which takes influences from all the aforementioned genres and allows Morrison to use his vocals well in a quite up tempo way. I do like the almost 'put in by chance' way the Indian melodies hang around, bit like a late 60's offering, nice. 7/10.
2. You Give Me Something
His big single hit and deservedly so. A gorgeous smooth start that is acoustic like (though I know it isn't). His voice is very, very soulful here and reminiscent of his hero, Stevie Wonder. His lyrics are ultra smooth too and although I am not a 'smooth' fan, there is something about this track that really hits the right buttons. I love the use of the horns that are so reminiscent of 70's soul yet at the same time very contemporary. Top song 9/10.

3. Wonderful World
Another big single hit, and in some ways a 'bigger' song than the last offering, more polished, more confident, yet lacking the 'impact' of the last track for me. Don't get me wrong, this is another big 'white' soul number that has a bit more of an Indie edge to it and is very, very good. I guess the thing about music is that it hits different people in different ways, not so well for me on this. 7/10.

4. The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore
A bit slower and a bit more mournful in a relationship break up kinda way. I like the lyrics, I like his vocal, in fact I like the song. 7/10.

5. One Last Chance
This is good too, he strays away from the soul side of things a bit here and we get something more akin to contemporary indie rock, but slower. Still very melodic in a soulful way and yet has an 'American' feel to it that he pulls off well. 7/10.

6. Undiscovered
I do like this, big, bold vocals, closer to track 2 in style and though I haven't heard this played acoustically, I'm betting it would sound good played that way. He has a voice that sounds like he should clear his throat sometimes, and yet it works well here. 7/10.

7. The Letter
It is a shame that I heard this song seven tracks in as it is a bit too samey, apart from the harmonica (I think it's a harmonica) which gives it a bit more of a bluesy feel, but not enough to stand it out from the other songs, and I have to confess I have let this play in the background a couple of times and not really 'noticed' it. 5/10.

8. Call the Police
Oh...um...not sure....well.....good vocals....has a 'Bond theme' feel about it....um....well...um...yeh...it's okay. 4/10.

9. This Boy
This is nice....maybe too much of a good thing I am thinking by this point....I have I already heard this?...no, it's definitely a different one, or is it? Morrison has started to sound just a tad repetitive by now and I am getting bored thinking...why did I get the whole album. 3/10.

10. If the Rain Must Fall
Another big soulful ballad, bit more angsty which is good after the last couple of offerings, but again, much of a muchness. 5/10.

11. How Come
Isn't this the last song?...was there a break? 3/10.

12. The Last Goodbye
Nice, slower, smoother, nice beat, nice vocals, though by now I have to admit I have kinda had enough...this would have been better earlier in the album. Nice flowing beat and an orchestral feel to it. 6/10.

13. Better Man
Acoustic really, Morrison and his guitar, very pleasant and you can see from this song how he has useful collaborated with Mraz. Very similar style in terms of vocals, pace and pitch. 6/10.


~~Final Thoughts~~

I want to be nice about this album, I really do. He is a good singer, he plays the guitar with a competency that is a joy to behold. He has a great talent for lyrical writing. He has a couple of songs on this album which are truly very, very good......and yet......after track 6 I became quite bored with him and his songs and started to think he sounded a bit whiney in a husky, desperate sort of way.

He is young and will undoubtedly get better, his latest offering (not on this album obviously) is a great collaboration with Nelly Furtado. I get the feeling on this album that he got carried away with the hype surrounding him and tried to live up to the greatness placed on his shoulders and the truth is, he doesn't....yet.

Worth buying the whole album? In my opinion no, but not an album to throw away if given as a present...tracks 1 - 6 for me, and that's about it.

Summary: Undiscovered, James Morrison.