James Blunt - Back To Bedlam (CD 2005)

Some ageing rockstar once said that what he feared most, in a musical sense, was the songwriting well running dry. That's something that's unlikely ever to worry James Blunt. He has, it can be said without exaggeration, lived a life that should provide enough material for a dozen albums, with sufficient left over for a couple of screenplays. Sure - that's what all the singer-songwriters say. But this is a definitively different singer-songwriter.

Take "No Bravery", the song that closes his debut album, "Back to Bedlam", for instance: It was written in Kosovo in 1999, while James was a reconnaissance officer in the British army. On patrol around Pristina, he kept his guitar bolted to the outside of his tank. But in quieter moments, it came out, as he wrote about life as a 22-year-old peacekeeper in the aftermath of one of the decade's bloodiest civil wars. The rest of his unit ordered him to keep the noise down as he wrote and sang in the post-midnight stillness. He didn't keep the noise down. "'No Bravery' is the only complete song I wrote in Kosovo. I wrote it lying by my tank in my sleeping bag with my boots on. You had to sleep with your boots on. The song is pretty fatalistic. The rest of the album is fatalistic," he says wryly.

But his Kosovan experience is only one aspect of a new artist who's destined to find his way into a lot of record collections. Essentially, James is a find - an old soul who's somehow unafflicted by cynicism, a young writer who sounds likes he's been doing this for years, an angelic voice who's had a heck of a ride.

Back to Bedlam is one of those cd’s that you overplay once you get it, knowing that you will burn it out and have to retire it but you just don’t care. If you are one of those people that likes to have a soundtrack for life, reserve this one for cold pensive days, or when you want to take a quick shot of emotional truth to make the mundane fade away. Currently, “Goodbye My Lover”, “Tears and Rain” and the final track “No Bravery” have me wondering and imagining the lyrical history of these tracks. My favorite is still “No Bravery” after listening to the entire album a few times, but the smooth anthem “High” is gaining ground quickly.

Back to Bedlam is a refreshing record, but one that will draw both fans and haters. You will most likely immediately put it into your top 6 disc rotation or get sick of the English lullaby tunes and throw it out the window. Either way, it is worth a listen – you can decide for yourself but I believe you will be seeing grammy nods thrown at Mr. Blunt left and right in the year to come.

I heard the song You're Beautiful" on the radio and did not know much about James Blunt's singing, so bought the CD.

Was not disappointed, in fact, I find all the titles on this CD absolutely fascinating and certainly James Blunt has gained another fan.

I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed with this track!

my daughter loves james blunt he is a very meaningful singer a very strong willed character who has been through alot and it comes out in his songs

This album is a great emotional album. Let yourself get lost in the deep meaningful lyrics and soulful tunes and enjoy.

I don't buy all this moaning by stars like Oasis. They slag artists off like James Blunt and there is no need for it. Bands like Oasis have written some amazing music themselves over the years, but it's not all about Morning Glory and Champagne Supernovas.

If your looking for some music with a story to tell via great lyrics and heart warming music, then this could be right up your street.

Was not a fan of James Blunt but have become one over the years. Excellent album and will look for more to purchase.

This is definately one of my favourite CD's fabulous chill out music. Easy listening excellent meaningful lyrics and a wonderfully talented voice.

James Blunt really is the future!

This is a brilliant CD. All of the tracks are pure genius!
This is not even the type of music i would normally listen to but for the pure raw talent of James Blunt I have to make an exception.

Love this album, think Mr Blunt is a very underrated musician and doesn't deserve the bad press, he's a genuine nice guy as well! Favorite track is Good bye my lover....

well in todays economy everyone is struggling I have just got into this music and wanted to get his cd but the ones i bought were expenisive what better way to buy from someone who perhaps had it as a gift and did not want it they have the hard cash i have a product i wanted im delighted thank you so much, i always check ebay before i buy from the stores it has saved me hundreds i suggest ebay to everyone and some of my mates are addicted which is so funny, so thats it really thank you ebay i have only had a few bad experiences but paypal put it right so im a happy shopper... cath hanson

I can recommend this album to everybody who likes free and easy music for a leasure time or listening in a car. We listen similar music when we meet with friends..

Having heard some of his songs on the radio I thought it was time for me to start collecting some of his cd's,and I was told that this the back to bedlam cd was a good starting point.

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I really like his songs especailly your beautiful and goodbye my lover.These were his first songs and they are the best. I would highly recomend this album its great.

James Blunt - Back To Bedlam Just excellent! Pop it in your card and sing along, easy listening!!!!!!!!!!!1

James Blunt has done the unbelievable and created on the best CDs ever known to man! It is filled with awesome songs! Really good!

I like the words to this album and there is nothing i dislike about this album. I decided to buy it because i informed it was a brillant album.

James Blunt recently appeared in a few television programmes, promoting his latest CD. I found him to be refreshingly humourous, intelligent and lucid which encouraged me to want to listen to his music, so I bought this earlier CD to see how I felt about it. I was interested to listen to how he expressed his experiences as a soldier in his song and found it quite moving when I first listened to the CD. His voice is unusual and attractive but I found that it didn't vary enough and the tracks all started to sound similar. I like to listen to lyrics that are clearly enunciated and these songs are certainly easy to sing along to but the overall sadness of the themes means that it will be a CD I'll only play when I'm in a contemplative mood. I'm not so cynical that I still feel choked when I listen to No Bravery.

i love this cd and play it all the time.i have recently bought james blunts latest cd which i dont think is quite so good but i am sure it will grow on me.this one though is excellent

Decided to because of recent air play on radio, and having bourght latest album. i found Back To Bedlam even better than All The Lost Souls. No complaints, overall a excellent cd loolking forward to anything new James Blunt brings out.

Brilliant emotional cd.I love the feeling that James Blunt puts into his music...He preforms from the heart and in doing so touches mine!!

This is just awful. How one is expected to listen to this dull inane garbage is beyond me. From the opening track to the last note, this supposed angelic voiced musician, sounding like a tom cat on the prowl, made me think a lot of people who rave about this bloke must be severely depressed or outright suicidal. At least he chose an apt name, Blunt.

This was purchased for me as a gift, from a friend, who obviously has never looked at my music collection.

This CD is now safely tucked away in a box at the back of the loft, never to see the light of day again.

If this is rock music, all I can say is, not much hope for the future.

Remember this is my opinion, not yours, before purchasing any music, you should at least attempt to listen to the album in question or other material by the artist.

boring album. either u like him or you dont. dont think he should have givin up his job in the army he must have been better at that then his singing

love every think about the album..... just love james blunt songs some think you can relax to and all the house hold love it so that means i can play it as much as i want with out any one turning it of....

Excellent album with some great songs on it that can be played over and over again buy one and see for yourself you wont be dissapointed

I am not really into music but I think this is not the best music. But that's why I did not rate it any higher than average.