JAMES MORRISON – THE AWAKENING (UNIVERSAL)It’s a mark of the progress he’s made that James Morrison is arguably up alongside John Legend as the modern soul singer most likely to cause excitement with the release of a new album.
Paradoxically, that excitement has to do with Morrison’s consistency – his fantastic voice and a sure-footedness in his songwriting that means every track is worth a listen, even if the life-changing stuff is harder to come by.
The big-name guest is a mainstream release staple nowadays, but Jessie J’s appearance on Up will only interest her own devoted followers – she doesn’t really offer anything other than her brand. Slave to The Music is a much better option, raising both the energy level and the hook quota.
Person I Should have been recalls The Zombies’s I’m Not There and is a good marker for another characteristic of the album as a whole – very lush production, laden with horns, stings, organs and reverb.
Say something Now allows Morrison to try out all his soul man vocal tricks before Beautiful Life provides a likely pop hit and ushers in a strong last third of the collection. – BD
James Morrison – The awakening – Soul for the soul
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