Customer Reviews

Jim

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jamie Lidell's 2005 album Multiply showcased his extraordinary voice together with music which combined old school soul and funk with more modern dance sounds. It was a Gonzalez remix of the title track with its simple piano accompaniment which showed the real strength: the voice. Jamie Lidell is a white guy from England who lives in Berlin and sounds like a combination of Stevie Wonder, Prince and Otis Redding. Marvellous.

New album Jim plays to these strengths opening with piano on the glorious Another Day before full backing comes in. Wait For Me bounces along with fantastic backing vocals and the soulful sound continues complete with handclapping chorus on Out Of My System. All I Wanna Do is a gorgeous, heartfelt ballad, Lidell's voice placed layer upon layer to build the backing. It's all about the voice rather than fussy production this time around. Which isn't to say that the dance influence isn't there; first single Little Bit Of Feelgood is a funky floorfiller and Figured Me Out has some crazy keyboards which reminded me of Doctor Fink (who played with Prince). There are even guitars to lead in the stomping Hurricane before things get a disco tinge on Green Light. It's Jamie and piano again on Where D'You Go? before the album finishes with the beautiful Rope of Sand, another stunning ballad with simple orchestration.

That's a very brief rundown. The production really focuses in on the voice and it's the kind of scrutiny that many singers would crumble under but on this personally titled album 'Jim' is revelling in his gift. The only way to know for sure how good he is, is to buy the album and enjoy.

After his previous effort, Multiply, I struggled to see how Jamie Lidell could better himself. But having heard JIM, I've lost that bet with myself. JIM is ten tracks of classic soul and funk, shot through with a feel that's entirely now. I've seen the odd comparison to Steve Wonder in the press, something that I think will be cemented as fact after hearing this. 'Where D'You Go' is a blast of feelgood piano, 'Hurricane' sounds like Beck on a very good day and 'All I Wanna Do' manages to be laid back without wasting a single beat. Exceptional.

Jamie Lidell's released work has changed somewhat dramatically since I first encountered the electronic bleeps and scratches of his first full album, 'Muddlin Gear'.

His second, 'Multiply', really piqued my interest; here was a clearly accomplished vocalist and musician who had found his niche and a talent for creating endearing, innovative, foot-stompingly danceable music.

With 'Jim', his effortless soaring vocals hit every sweet note available while his astonishingly earthy tone, at its best, is spellbinding. At worst, his voice is a gentle...what am I saying? There is no worst.

Sliding between the impossibly funky with songs such as 'Out of my System', 'Little Bit of Feel Good' and 'Hurricane' and the pant-wettingly seductive in 'All I Wanna Do' and 'Green Light', 'Jim' is an absolute tour-de-force and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Lidell's voice is complemented by driving piano, delicate horns, subtle electronic touches and a fascinating story told with a sensitive lyric, and there is not a weak song in sight. Not since Jeff Buckley's 'Grace' have i given (very nearly) every song on an album a 5-star rating!

I have decided not to focus on the obvious comparisons with other, perhaps more well-known artists, as these have been mentioned aplenty in other reviews around the Web. Suffice to say that, try as my inner demon might, I cannot unfavourably compare the sound of 'Jim' with any soul music I have ever heard. Much has been made of his marriage of futuristic and retro sound, and with good reason, but all that I can say is that no comparisons need be drawn. Otis is smiling.

There's no doubt, this guy deserves every success. He can do it all. Buy it! (Then buy 'Multiply' if you haven't already).

I first heard Jamie Lidell at a Warp Records Showcase a long time ago, about 8 years or so, and he was a standout that night. Not such a fan of the usual Warp 'electronic beepy' styling I had gone to support a friend and this guy was the one that piqued my interest. I followed him ever since, owning and liking all previous offerings. But not til 'Jim' could I say I loved him. Now I do. This album is fantastic. Yes, the guy is not the same artist as he was in his first offerings, and for those who loved those you may well be disappointed. But for those who liked those, this will grow into love upon hearing 'Jim'. Its classic, old school soul in the truest sense of the word - the man has a soulful incredibly expressive and powerful voice, and it is beautiful too. Standout tracks for me are "Out of my System" and "Green Light", but truly there is not a bad track on there. Anyone who is even comparing this album to James Morisson is in my opinion misguided. I quite like James Morisson - but Jamie Lidell with 'Jim' is in a totally different league and even, I would suggest, a different genre. This is soul at its contemporary best.

He is THE voice of modern soul/funk. He has come along way from his drum'n'electro beginnings (which were fine) but he has grown as a singer and the production on 'Jim' is all focused on his natural gift, that voice. Some electro fans are, i'm sure, disappointed with his decision to make more accessible soul/funk pop, but it should be enough that you discovered him, a talent like this was always going to rise into the popular domain. and given all the R'n'B & talent show rubbish currently filling our TV screens i think it's fantastic a real star is rising, long may Jamie Lidell reign. if your unsure about buying this album, do so your ears deserve it!

My brother bought this CD for me and I loved it straight away. My kids love it too. Went to see him in concert too and he was fantastic!!

Hi I was introduced to this through my son and daughter both in their twenties. Lyrics and music take you along make you feel good. I especially like "please dont make my feel good go away." Positive outlook music carries you along to a hopeful future, makes me smile. I have now bought 2 more copies - one for my neice to support her through her A levlels also gave one to a friend who took it back to australia. I would love to see Jamie live, I hope to go some time with my daughter. Keep up the lyrics and music. Ann marie

this is good if you like ur soul/funk etc but its not in the same leaugue as stevie wonder is it songs in the key of life or talking book etc but overall a few good songs his other efforts more this is more commercial but this might get him recognised more!!

Sorry but I couldn't disagree more with the reviews written so far with regard to `Jim` on the Amazon website.

Having read all the reviews of this album and heard all the heavy weight comparisons with Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Prince etc, I bought this album with huge expectations. As always however, whenever these sorts of lofty pretensions are banded about (and here I do not blame the artist), the reality is that nothing could be further from the truth.

The album is a competent reading of the standard `souly`, R&B blueprint, which probably translates very well live. As far as the songs go however, there is nothing new here, nothing fresh, nothing even vaguely challenging. The songs follow a familiar well trodden path with tired motown grooves for the most part and chord progressions/arrangements, which have been used many times in the past and now just sound clichéd. The less said about the lyrics the better; they are simply terrible; lightweight and lazy. You know them, you have heard it all before!

Sadly these days most `soul` artists are mere imitators and I think it is dangerous to try and compare artists from different generations. Times are different and technology has moved on and changed the way we listen and appreciate music. It is a shame that Lewis Taylor has gone in to retirement as he, more than anyone in recent times, had a slightly different take on this genre and could (at times) be quite brilliant...

I know it has been said before, but the likes of a Sly Stone or a Marvin Gaye may come along once in a lifetime...please lets not devalue their genius. Sure everyone to their own, but for me, `Jim` is headed for ebay.