James Morrison .Net

It seems like there has been a lot of news and attention on James Morrison right now over in good old USA, where 95% of people seem to of course been compairing him to James Blunt.  This article is already surjecting the James Morrison could be the net Blunt and be a huge brit success over there.

Is America ready for the next sensitive singer-songwriter from across the pond? James Morrison, whose album “Undiscovered” went platinum over in England, is releasing the debut album here in the states.

While he isn’t a Morrison of the Van variety, this soul crooner with a distinctive, if gravelly, voice could find popularity in the way James Blunt has. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Morrison has a much better range to his voice than Blunt, and a decidedly rosier outlook on life that isn’t dwelt upon in falsetto. However, concerned listeners may wonder how Mr. Morrison can even speak after singing like that for an entire album. Hopefully as his musical prowess grows he will learn to sing more from the gut than from the nose.

The songs themselves are full of emotion, as that unforgettable voice drives the tempo and shifts more than the instruments themselves.

One of the future singles of the album, “Under the Influence” has infectious melody and fantastic hooks. “You Give Me Something” shows off a slower pace and a less edgy voice, giving the sensitive lyrics an augmented importance that is missing from some of the other songs. The horns give it some punch, which a lot of artists out there today don’t seem to utilize, with the exception of Ray LaMontagne and John Mayer.

Speaking of LaMontagne, Morrison sounds a lot like him at many spots on the album. While Morrison’s debut doesn’t quite equal the greatness of LaMontagne’s, he is on the right track and only time will tell whether his star will ascend.

Great voice, decent lyrics, an array of wonderful instrumentation, what’s missing? Well, to put it simply, Morrison tries too hard at times. In a slow, melodic song, he’s shouting at the top of his lungs when a quieter, soulful voice would be better. It borders on grating at parts, specifically on “Last Goodbye”.

The album release is intriguing because although it’s being released in 2007, it feels like something from the old days. There are traces of Stevie Wonder and even a wee bit of Joe Cocker.

This may be a pleasant surprise in terms of popularity, and a track similar to James Blunt could happen, but with fewer backlashes than Blunt experienced from having his song played a hundred times a day on the radio.

KEY TRACKS: “Under the Influence,” “You Give Me Something,” “Undiscovered,” “Better Man.”

Fortwayne