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December 09, 2005
Pass Me The Blunt
Thanks to Saturday Night Live, I got exposed to a new-to-me artist this weekend. And true to form for me, when I hear something I really like for the first time, I listen to it obsessively until there are grooves in my CDs or computer. So I've been listening to about a half dozen of this guy's songs over and over again all week. (And lord am I bracing for the hell I know I am going to take from the Beav for this on the blog, since she's been letting me have it on IM since I confessed, since I now apparently share musical tastes with her teenage sister.) Does it detract from my masculinity that I really am digging a soft-rock folkie with an ethereal sound and introspective, emotional lyrics? (Do I need to go crank up some SliPKnoT or Avenged Sevenfold to get my testosterone back?)
James Blunt, formerly of the British Army, played Saturday Night Live this past weekend. He's a pianist and folkie, and his songs (at least the ones he played Saturday night) are slower, pretty melodies with sometimes haunting lyrics... he reminds me a bit of Jeff Buckley, actually. Apparently he's quite the rising superstar in the UK, from what I can read, and he is getting a foothold in the States now. (His lead single is #12 on iTunes today.)
If Blunt's song "Goodbye My Lover" had been around a couple of years ago, I might never have gotten out of bed again... the way he delivers the line "And I still hold your hand in mine... in mine when I'm asleep," whispering high notes that make him climb to the limits of his register, the vulnerability is palpable. When he's wailing "I'm so hollow" at the end of the song, it takes you back to every painful breakup you've gone through. In fact, I think this song may become the official national anthem of sad divorces and breakups. (The video -- co-starring Mischa Barton from "The O.C." -- is available about halfway down the MTV page here.)
The lead single, "You're Beautiful," is perfect for New York -- where pretty much every subway ride guarantees that you'll see at least one woman per trip who stops time with her beauty... and you've already started thinking about what you're going to name your children until she gets off two stops before you'd worked up the line you were going to approach her with, and now you'll never see your would-be wife again. (That's actually a germ of a short story, inspired by real-life train musings, that I have bouncing in my head that I'll probably never flesh out or write.)
Yeah, she caught my eye, as we walked on by... And I don't think that I'll see her again, but we shared a moment that will last till the end... You're beautiful., you're beautiful; You're beautiful, it's true... I saw your face in a crowded place, and I don't know what to do.. cause I'll never be with you.
Yeah. Happens every time I'm on the train. Anyway... as you can tell, I am on a James Blunt high right now (heh heh... I'm, like, witty and stuff). If you're secure enough in your own manliness (even female readers), I recommend checking him out. (Hell, guys... play your cards right, this guy's songs can probably get you a really good night, provided you make breakfast the next morning.)
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Comments
vomit, vomit vomit. Eat own vomit, vomit again.
I'll have something more eloquent later. In the form of emotional abuse.
Posted by: the beav at December 9, 2005 11:29 AM
woos
Posted by: Marquette Hoops at December 9, 2005 01:47 PM
Hey Chris, that guy sounds like someone I would like. I'm catching up on your posts I've missed since I became so self absorbed. I'm back anyway but don't think I should be calling myself "A Marine's Girl" anymore since Bren is pretty much out of my life now.
Trying to re-invent myself now while he tries to find himself again. He's been pretty messed up from his tours in Iraq and even though I've tried to be supportive through it all...he thinks it is better for him to be alone right now. :(
Posted by: Juliette at December 9, 2005 11:11 PM
Juliette!!
Welcome back! Wish we could still be calling you MG and that you were back under happier circumstances, but it's good to have you back nonetheless.
Yeah, based on what I know of your musical tastes (ie, James Taylor), I think you'd be digging on James Blunt.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at December 10, 2005 09:05 AM
Hey man, thanks for the into... let me give you one back:
Archie Roach (kind of goes with James Blunt if you think about it) is an Australian of aboriginal descent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Roach
Very powerful voice, incredible messages. "Love In The Morning" from the Jamu dreaming album is one of my favorite songs of all time as is "Beggar Man" from the Looking for Butterboy album.
Posted by: usefulguy at December 10, 2005 11:02 PM
I'll admit to liking the Blunt CD, too. Having notriously sugary taste in music, I highly recommend giving Daniel Powter a try, too. Perhaps a bit sappier than Blunt, and with a voice that has more than a hint of Leo Sayer in it, his self titled CD is pretty good, IMO. He had a freebie track on iTunes, too.
Posted by: Mike at December 13, 2005 03:00 PM
