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Product Description
Review
Freshly signed to Decca, Juan Zelada is a London-based (and inspired – the English capital’s inhabitants have "a mystique" about them, according to the man’s website bio) Spanish singer-songwriter whose debut LP-preceding press says much about the audience he’s hoping to court. Comparisons to Paolo Nutini and Jack Johnson paint a picture of an artist with earnest lyrical intentions but little in the way of compositional inspiration, despite evidence enough of developed hooks and commendably catchy choruses. (See also: Jameses Blunt and Morrison; the terrifyingly popular Bruno Mars; Ed Sheeran once you smooth out what edginess he’s supposed to possess.)
And so it proves: perfectly pleasant in a background fare capacity, High Ceilings & Collarbones is music for malls, for drive-time and doing the vacuuming. Its variety is restricted to half-remembered hit tunes from radio of the last 25 years, diversions into a gentle approximation of the blues about as far as Zelada stretches away from tried-and-tested templates. Opener The Blues Remain is a slow-burner with neat piano motifs and brass punctuation; as tone-setters go it’s not exactly on the money, but nevertheless is an appealing curtain-up on a voice that rarely settles, at times coarse – coming surprisingly close to Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones – and others silky smooth. Toe-tappers present themselves if the listener is willing to focus for a few minutes: there’s a little dose of drama on the busy Elsewhere, Breakfast at Spitalfields is bright and breezy, and album (proper) closer I Can’t Love is genuinely lovely, reminiscent of Pink Floyd in their more restrained, radio-friendly moments, the guitar evoking echoes of David Gilmour’s trademark licks.
A press release one-liner of "Ben Folds meets the Dave Matthews Band" is misleading: Zelada hasn’t the razor-sharp lyrical smarts of Folds, neither the potential, on the exclusive basis of this set, to reach Dave Matthews Band levels of commercial success (he’s probably not going to buy a yacht in this tax year). Impressive in not really impressing beyond its duration, High Ceilings… is an album for the moment, not the memories; a decent step on the first rung of a career ladder that can rise to incredible heights. But it’s unlikely to be returned to once the world’s beige-pop/New Boring heavyweights unveil their own 2012 collections.
--Mike Diver
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A great debut album from Juan - He's a songsmith in the oldest and greatest traditions. It's a mixture of well orchestrated and harmonised tracks. Highlights include "Breakfast in Spitalfields" and " Blues Remain". Switching between jazz, piano funk and soul, Juan is a breath of fresh air..
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I can start by saying that Mr BBC's comment in the review above: "but little in the way of compositional inspiration" is rather jawdroppingly wrong; I'm no musician myself but i can recognise engaging "compositional inspiration" when i hear it! All in all a really impressive full debut, building on appearances all over the radio in 2011. I've had his story of stuff EP playing non-stop in my bar in Stockholm and it gets so many positive comments from clients it's unbelievable - I'm sure this CD will build on that. Plus, it joins my list of favourite "&" albums: Negotiations & Lovesongs, August & Everything After, Under the Table & Dreaming, ...And Justice for All, hahaha!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
What a great album, just what the iPod needed! Really hoping to catch him on his tour!
The future is bright, the future is Juan Zelada.
The future is bright, the future is Juan Zelada.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Piece of art!...
THE album of this summer! Highly recommended, worth every penny...
Very well written and arranged by a group of multi-talented artists. Read more
Very well written and arranged by a group of multi-talented artists. Read more
Published 18 days ago by mc_pt
Lazydays
Totally love this album - big fan of mellow guitar but this has gravelly smokey vocals.
Perfect for mellow munchies with your mates. Read more
Perfect for mellow munchies with your mates. Read more
Published 1 month ago by jackinthebox
Fresh Talent
A feel good album that shows off fresh talent.
Certain tracks remind of other artists styles but,
Juan makes them his own. Top notch!!
Certain tracks remind of other artists styles but,
Juan makes them his own. Top notch!!
Published 1 month ago by The Kitchen Elf
Not consistently strong
A bit "same-y" if I'm honest, I tend to skip through the tracks to find the less languishing ones. I love the faster tempo tracks, not the slow ones.
Published 1 month ago by Opinionated Passionflower
high
My wife wanted this but it turns out that is not my cup of tea, a load of rubbish. She can buy the next one herself.
Published 2 months ago by M. H. Dow
FEEL GOOD C/D
I first heard about this c/d when Juan Zelada appeared on BBC Breakfast programme. So when they played a track from it I ordered a copy straight away and I have not been... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. R. A. Osborne
Juan Zelada CV
CD ordered on pre release after brief tv interview, so didn't know really what to expect. Was intrigued after hearing that he used to play in a restaurant, and the owner sold the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Lulubelle63
juan
Brilliant he is a treasure found. I've been singing his songs merrily most days.... Sundays are the best he brings an eloquence to my day.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. J. Wray
Awesome album!
This is a fantastic album, truely something that everybody will like, as long as you like good music! The guy is a massive talent with an amazing voice! I definitely recommend!
Published 3 months ago by A. Trayler
Absolute class
Just the sort of album that becomes a classic! When I like an album straight away, my enthusiasm often wanes just as quickly, but not so with this gem. Read more
Published 3 months ago by reidie
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