Lead track 'High' is likeable enough, although barely makes a lasting impression, which is perhaps the key to James Blunt's success. It's a simple song with simple sentiments that uses the word 'beautiful' often enough to be irritating. 'You're Beautiful' hardly needs describing, you're bound to have heard it already. We've seen this kind of situation happen all too often before. The runaway success of 'You're Beautiful' will also probably hamper his long-term potential and hang like an albatross around his neck. Three year gaps between releases when you've only released one LP? That's not really going to help James Blunt long-term. He's currently touring America in support of 'Your Beautiful' topping the charts over there, so don't expect a new album before 2007. For one, the albums first release dates back to 2004. Perhaps in a few years and albums down the line, James Blunt will also be considered an artist of true worth? Because for now, i'm not sure i'd rate him that highly based on 'Back To Bedlam' alone. The production line of Motown in the 60s ended up mutating and producing many fine and true genuine artists of worth. So, it's a packaged product, then? Well, yes, although i'm not against packaged music to go as a general rule. The imagery the lyrics try and conjure up is decidely poor given the stories James Blunt must surely have to tell, living the kind of live his biographical details tell us he has done. 6th form rhyming standards are strictly adhered to, bed/head, that kind of rhyme. The lyrics are all written by James Blunt, although that's hardly anything to boast about.
Professional song-writers including the likes of former Robbie Williams collaborator Guy Chambers assist James Blunt with his tunes. James Blunt has been labelled a singer/songwriter, which I suppose he is, but major-label tampering has taken place. The choice of artwork, the direction of his videos, the choice of collaborators. No mention of Harrow or Sandhurst then? No big focus on his privileged background? Well, obviously not, that's not the kind of thing that sells records. James Blunt is an excellent example of this, his history at a soldier ( Kosovo and Queens Guard ) gets the attention, an attempt to portray James Blunt as a tragic, lovelorn poet for the modern age. Marketing at major labels works in predictable ways. High / You're Beautiful / Wisemen / Goodbye My Lover / Tears And Rain / Out Of My Mind / So Long, Jimmy / Billy / Cry / No Bravery