Track Listing

1. High
2. You’re Beautiful
3. Wisemen
4. Goodbye My Lover
5. Tears And Rain
6. Out Of My Mind
7. So Long Jimmy
8. Billy
9. Cry
10. No Bravery

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #871 in Music
• Released on: 2005-06-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.co.uk Review
As a piece of propaganda, James Blunt’s album Back to Bedlam does more for changing the face of the British Army than a series of television adverts ever could. Swapping a rifle for a guitar, the former cavalryman’s ballad-heavy debut is a clearly aiming to win the battle for the public’s hearts and minds. The success of singles like "You’re Beautiful" and "No Bravery" (inspired by his time stationed in Bosnia) are both heartfelt and sensitive, the latter packing an additional emotional punch beyond the typical lovelorn ballads of his contemporaries like Damien Rice. But Blunt also sings with conviction about matters of the heart, and that’s the territory that most of Back to Bedlam visits, with songs of loss like "Goodbye My Lover", "So Long Jimmy" and "Billy". And throughout, the arrangements remain understated yet effective, thanks to the input of such heavyweight producers and songwriters like Linda Perry and Guy Chambers. All of which prove that there’s a lot of depth to this modern, musical hero. --Robert Burrow

CD Description
'Back To Bedlam' is the debut album from British singer songwriter James Blunt. Recorded in Los Angeles and produced byTim Rothrock (Beck, Elliot Smith, Badly Drawn Boy), the album sees Blunt draw on various life experiences for inspiration, including his spell in the army serving as part of a NATO peacekeeping unit in Kosovo. The single 'High' is also included.

Customer Reviews

Well...
I don't understand some people, I really don't. Reviews on this site are supposed to help other people who are interested in buying the album to decide! I've been frankly shocked by some of the zealotry and pettiness of some of the reviewers on here. I've heard terms like 'people who like this album should get a life'! How ridiculous is that! Do the people think it's clever or seemingly sophisticated rating the album 1 star and giving it a barely discernable and flawed grilling will actually help people? I think not.

Then again I've heard those at the other end of the scale - 'Better than Dylan' etc etc, which is a fallacy equal to the former. This album is somewhat unoriginal,somewhat soporific in some ways, and it obviously panders to the radio audience but in NO WAY is it the worst album ever. Furthermore, the album is at times incredibly touching, fitting almost every situation, and GENUINELY heart-felt. But equally, it's incredible that some think this is the best album of the decade. This guy's voice is a clearly a very divisive debate. So one can only assume its a matter of opinion, something which nearly everything boils down to.

I personally like it. As people have mentioned, the overplay You're Beautiful has been awful for James Blunt. It has reduced You're Beautiful from a soaring ballad to pretty formulaic. Furthermore, it has attracted the critics, who swarm like vultures. It is also representative of Blunt's amazing talent. The first half is very strong, showing us ballads which are tuneful, and demonstrate (for those of us who like it), the good range of his voice, while the second half slows the pace down to nearly unacceptable levels. Although 'Out of my Mind' and 'No Bravery' pretty much come at polar oposites in quality, they both deisplay key features in James Blunt's repertoire, repetitive hooks and true, genuine heart. You can't justify this album to everyone, but it is not a bad album if you like this sort of a music,

I think those people who like 'sophisticated' music, who like 'deep' music, who seem to want to die every time they hear this 'pap' need firstly to rethink their attitude. Yes music is an artform, not your version of an artform. Secondly, they need to accept that they don't rule the world.

That's my two cents

A GREAT ALBUM - shame success brings out the worst in people
If you look at the reviews of this album before it was well known, they all think it was a fantastic find. When it hit number one with both album and single, a few bad reviews appeared. Interestingly, the new reviews that paint a negative picture of this album all seem to include some sort of personal attack on James Blunt, or even personal attacks on people who enjoy the album. Fortunately, I ignored these often uninformed reviews and actually bought the album, and can say it is very good.

The songs are very strong. The production is simple, but effective, and James' voice is a remarkable instrument. The album has not been hyped. It's been around for just under a year, and developed organically. The songs change from up-tempo to slow and dark. Some have a band-like feel, others stripped down and raw. It feels like an intimate album that reflects it's independent record label roots, but confident enough to be relevant to a broad spectrum of people.

If you are shallow enough not to like posh people, or inadequate enough to despise anything that is popular in order to show off your independent thinking, don't get this album. If you appreciate good music, I recommend you give Back to Bedlam a go.

Want to be blown away ?
I saw this man open for the ever-dependable David Kitt at The Bush Hall, and thought that he was absolutely marvellous. I'd never heard a support act silence a crowd before, but James just about managed it with the glorious "Goodbye My Lover".

I bought the album as soon as it was available, and it's by far the best album I've bought in a couple of years. There's not a weak track on it(OK, perhaps "Billy" isn't quite as strong as the rest), but with "High", "You're Beautiful", "Cry", and "No Bravery", James has marked himself down as a serious talent with the world at his feet. "Goodbye My Lover" still gives me shivers every time I hear it, and has made me overcome my dislike of songs which use the word "Baby".

If this man isn't as big a name as Damien Rice before the year is out, I'll eat my hat. This man is going to be HUGE.