James Blunt - The "Back To Bedlam" Era

[allow that]

This album is due out on September 20, though I hope it gets pushed back a little to allow his first single more time to kick in (which hasn't gone for adds yet but is getting a lot of airplay in NYC already).

James is the biggest success story in the UK of the year.

He used to be a soldier in Kosovo, and he plays over a dozen instruments on his album.

The album has been at #1 for a month now in the UK, propelled by its third single "You're Beautiful" which is also currently at #1 in the UK. "YB" is almost definitely the first US single.

You guys should really check him out!

Back To Bedlam Tracklisting:
High
You're Beautiful
Wisemen
Goodbye My Lover
Tears and Rain
Out Of My Mind
So Long, Jimmy
Billy
Cry
No Bravery (a Linda Perry production)

[allow that]

LOL, this article is hilarious:

To be quite Blunt, Harry, all the girls seem to be after James; ALL EYES ARE ON THE PRINCE OF POP AS REAL ROYALTY TAKES A BACK SEAT.



The Evening Standard (London, England); 7/25/2005



Byline: ALISTAIR FOSTER

FOR ONCE all eyes were not on Prince Harry - they were on the latest chart sensation, James Blunt.

The former soldier, top of both the singles and albums charts, was attracting the female attention at a party last night.

By contrast, Harry was unusually coy as he sat in a corner with friends - and not a female admirer in sight.

Blunt and Harry were among the famous faces at the Cartier International Polo event, one of the most glamorous dates on the party calendar.

The 20-year-old prince has become a regular fixture at the event and in past years has been seen drinking and dancing until dawn surrounded by young women.

But it was Blunt's turn to be the centre of attention as Harry turned in early because he had to get back to his Sandhurst barracks by midnight.

Blunt, 28, arrived with a blonde woman by his side, and was later spotted with actress Martine McCutcheon on his arm. The singer, who was a captain in the Army and served in Kosovo, revealed his plans to crack America.

He hopes his chart-topping single You're Beautiful and his triple platinum album Back To Bedlam will win him millions of new fans in the US.

He said: "I'm absolutely over the moon about my chart positions. Now I'm going to give America my very best shot."

Harry seems to have regained his appetite after being kept at Sandhurst's medical centre overnight last week following complaints of a sore throat and general tiredness.

After leading the official Prince of Wales team to victory by eight goals to four in the coveted Golden Jubilee Trophy, he ate some burgers from the Cartier tent before heading off to the Chinawhite tent with his friends.

Blunt and the prince drank champagne in the Cartier VIP tent and were joined by Lord Of The Rings stars Orlando Bloom and Cate Blanchett, actress Sienna Miller and model Caprice - who admitted being in the dark over polo.

"I'm having a great time but actually I don't know anything about polo," she said. "I really came here to look for some fit guys."

[britrocks16]

Do you know where I can listen to his album?

[Be My Last]

I have this album! Ever so slightly overhyped, but still very good.

[Dee]

He has probably sold just under 1 million in Europe but he is still a strong seller in UK, France and Italy among others. He has sold over 700k in the UK alone.

[allow that]

Here's an interview James did in June. It gives a really good idea of what he's all about. He talks about how he learned to play violin, piano, acoustic and electric guitar all before he was 10. He talks about recording his album in Los Angeles. He talks about this time spent in the army in Kosovo. He comes across as very humble, you can tell he's feeling like a fish out of water still by his surprise superstar status overnight.

You can get the interview here:
www.toazted.com/artistinfo.php?artist=646

Also, The Game is apparently a James Blunt fan! :)
www.mtv.co.uk/mtv.co.uk/news/article.jhtml?articleId=30123821

[Dee]

Thanks for the links. The interview is great.

[[upsilon]™]

He's doing wonders in the UK (and Europe) but none of his songs have yet to catch my attention.

[reception]

I see James Blunt picture on the World Music Awards website. He has the best-selling album in the UK.

[KikiMets]

James is on the cover of Billboard this week, with a 2-page spread (article plus large photo) in the magazine. I'd scan it, but the magazine is just too big to scan a full page with my scanner.

[allow that]

kikimets said:

James is on the cover of Billboard this week, with a 2-page spread (article plus large photo) in the magazine. I'd scan it, but the magazine is just too big to scan a full page with my scanner.

I saw he was on the cover! That's so awesome! That's unbelievable exposure for him. Is the article any good? I'm very curious in reading his label's plans for marketing him. They can make or break him. I guess if they got him on the cover of Billboard though, they're doing something right. I'll have to look for the magazine but it's been kind of hard to find lately.

[Robert J]

This CD is frickin' awesome.

[KikiMets]

Here's the article. I took a pic of the magazine with my digital camera, so I hope it came out okay:

img233.imageshack.us/img233/9177/jamesbluntarticle4su.jpg

[JCMF3]

Ok, two things:

(1) Isn't posting copyrighted material like a magazine article or a song by an artist illegal? I can see the whole "copy and paste from an internet site" bit, but posting a scanned version of a magazine article that is available only to paid subscribers seems like it could be trouble...

(2) Posting that article has widened the screen for this thread way too much! >:(

[shark cousteau]

3rd week @ #1 in nz.

[Jaffas85]

This album has been number #1 in Australia for many weeks now.

[nosuchthing9]

The songs is #1 in airplay here in holland for way too long npw, the song is starting to annoy me.

[reception]

On Sep 27, James Blunt was at the MTV Europe Music Awards Press Launch.

[The Black Bird]

He's so overrated!

[Deleted]

All Music Guide gave the album 3.5/5 stars. They listed "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover" as the highlights.

Soulful British crooner James Blunt's wistful debut infuses the listener — in order — with rainy-day hope, the wistful comfort of unattainable love, and finally, world-weary resignation. While his parched and effeminate falsetto recalls Gasoline Alley-era 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 four-chord guitar motifs are the chosen vehicle for the ex-Royal 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 40-minute run time ensures that the listener doesn't suffer from a melancholy overdose. Blunt 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.

[Rob64]

LOL @ Kiki posting copyright material

[Deleted]

rob64 said:

LOL @ Kiki posting copyright material

???

I edited it because the photo was stretching the page.

[allow that]

This album comes out tomorrow!

[foxysag]

I'm so excited to get this!! Definately one of my favorite albums of the year

[GiggaWho]

I downloaded the demo of Out Of My Mind from his site and I really liked it. If I can find a good price on this, I'll probably pick it up this weekend.

[Be My Last]

EVERY time I turn on the radio I hear this guy. I wish I was exaggerating. I originally liked the album but now he drives me crazy. He's unfortunately suffered from overkill.

[nosuchthing9]

feverabove said:

EVERY time I turn on the radio I hear this guy. I wish I was exaggerating. I originally liked the album but now he drives me crazy. He's unfortunately suffered from overkill.

I am so with you, the song is annoying as hell, he needs to go away...fast

[GiggaWho]

James' "High" is the free download on iTunes this week.

[Slinky]

giggawho said:

I downloaded the demo of Out Of My Mind from his site and I really liked it. If I can find a good price on this, I'll probably pick it up this weekend.

$12.99 at Best Buy when I picked it up Tuesday. That was the cheapest I could find. Well worth it though.

[GiggaWho]

$12.99 was the cheapest I could find it too. I decided to go ahead and get it, since I already knew I liked at least 3 songs on it. I'm glad I did. More thoughts on it later when I've had time to give it a good listen.