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Product Description
Review
Jamie Hartman is best known as the frontman of now-defunct indie-pop band Ben’s Brother, and he's also been a songwriter for pop stars including Westlife, Emma Bunton and Anastacia. Fans of his former band will find lots to love in his first solo album, III, which presents a mix of folksy jaunts and heart-pounding rock choruses. III has an approachable core of easy-on-the-ear, moreish melodies ready for the radio – each phrase opens and closes sheltered by heavy gloss, each piano twinkle aptly placed to frame the breathy melody lying just beneath it.
But for all its shine this set is deeply lacking edge; verses merely soundtrack the passing of time rather than evoke anything new. Strained warbling and endless "ooh"s take the place of urgency all too often. On Heartwarm, twangy guitars and extended vowel sounds draw out the chorus for time’s sake. Girlwise fares better, Hartman affably sweet in explaining how he fell in love; but Northern Star fails to blossom into the anthem its modest beginning teases at.
While the elements are all present and correct, there’s little trace of personality – Hartman’s unabbreviated flowing thoughts are surely buried somewhere deep beneath the clichés. For all of his sophistication, it’s unclear if a human could actually think in these songwriter-ly tones without being knocked out senseless. One Day When I Am Memory luxuriates before us on the cheese counter, with Hartman crooning like a young Rod Stewart – the gruffness offers up a neat, welcome contrast with a gospel choir’s yearning harmonies in the chorus.
The songs are more personal than Hartman had previously exposited with Ben’s Brother; he’s relocated to America and is far more questioning of everything. It’s about his "40 days and nights in the wilderness," but his concerns are fleeting more than touching. American Hope’s touching approach to our constantly shrinking world should be the album’s centre point, but the sad chords and on-call string section are all too obvious.
With The Script and James Blunt continuing to sell albums by the bucketload, Jamie Hartman should find space to make his mark on the charts and the airwaves. But a little more passion next time around certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing.
--Natalie Shaw
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
Excellent, existing fans will love it and it's a great starting point for new ones.
1) Happy New Year, previous single. Grower. Huge production, clanging guitar, gentle piano break, lovely.
2) Buddah Allah Jesus Jones, shimmering, soft, piano & strings ballad. Typically harmonious.
3) One Day When I Am Memory, gently thumping, swooping guitar tune with organ & a little brass. Interesting.
4) Acquaintances, pacey piano & percussion driven thumper. Wind the windows down and feel the sunshine.
5) Heartwarm, prominent 12 string & piano in typical Hartman style, with his voice in full flow. Great.
6) Girlwise, latest single, obvious choice, catchy & strong, each chorus another lift. Brilliant.
7) Northern Star, clever banjo threaded mid-tempo harmonic tune with instant hair-on-end hook, just beautiful
8) American Hope, unusual piano ballad, great vocal range & control, warming and strong.
9) Hard Rain, epic duet Dylan cover. Completely does justice to a poetic classic. Stunning, stunning.
10) Finest Hour, hopeful & inspirational uptempo song that keeps giving. Sure to be used in Masterchef; fab.
11) The Right To Know, soft and thoughtful, sparse acoustic ballad. Another classic,it's a beauty.
12) Before I Close My Eyes, calm, confident lullaby with perfectly complimenting piano and guitar. Genius.
1) Happy New Year, previous single. Grower. Huge production, clanging guitar, gentle piano break, lovely.
2) Buddah Allah Jesus Jones, shimmering, soft, piano & strings ballad. Typically harmonious.
3) One Day When I Am Memory, gently thumping, swooping guitar tune with organ & a little brass. Interesting.
4) Acquaintances, pacey piano & percussion driven thumper. Wind the windows down and feel the sunshine.
5) Heartwarm, prominent 12 string & piano in typical Hartman style, with his voice in full flow. Great.
6) Girlwise, latest single, obvious choice, catchy & strong, each chorus another lift. Brilliant.
7) Northern Star, clever banjo threaded mid-tempo harmonic tune with instant hair-on-end hook, just beautiful
8) American Hope, unusual piano ballad, great vocal range & control, warming and strong.
9) Hard Rain, epic duet Dylan cover. Completely does justice to a poetic classic. Stunning, stunning.
10) Finest Hour, hopeful & inspirational uptempo song that keeps giving. Sure to be used in Masterchef; fab.
11) The Right To Know, soft and thoughtful, sparse acoustic ballad. Another classic,it's a beauty.
12) Before I Close My Eyes, calm, confident lullaby with perfectly complimenting piano and guitar. Genius.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Heard the single's Happy New Year and Girlwise on the radio and decided to buy the album on the strength of those two songs and I am so glad I did, its BRILLIANT!!! This guy should be a huge star. Great Voice!!! Great Songs!!! Great Album!!! Love It!!!!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have loved all Jammie's work from Ben's Brother to his latest solo albumn he has a unique voice and he has written some very profound verse, can't wait for his next offering
Most Recent Customer Reviews
jamie hartman 111
Really enjoying this CD. Love his voice track 9 fantastic.The only track I dont like is 2 but that is only a matter of taste. Read more
Published 1 day ago by may
The look doesn't match that voice!
Like this one his upper register reminds me of the late great Harry Nilsson- when his voice was still sweet -1971 era.
Might buy another (Ben's brother) might try. Read more
Might buy another (Ben's brother) might try. Read more
Published 3 days ago by sixtiesman
Another great album from Jamie (Ben's brother)
This is another excellent album from Jamie Hartman - I have been waiting since December for this when the Happy New Year track was issued - my favorite single of 2011. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Uncle Phil
A good album
This is a good easy to listen to album with Jamie's voice as usual stunning . My favourite track is Hard Rain (unfortunately not written by Jamie) it proves to be a fantastic cover... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. L. Avey
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