James Blunt sharpens up . . . with Ed Sheeran’s help
JAMES BLUNT: The Afterlove (Atlantic) Verdict: Surprising revamp
James Blunt heralded the arrival of his fifth album in January by tweeting: ‘Be afraid . . . be very afraid.’
It was a typically self-deprecating aside from a singer who, despite huge success, has grown accustomed to public scorn. His 2004 hit You’re Beautiful topped the charts, but was still voted the most irritating song ever in an online poll, beating Crazy Frog and mr Blobby.
But Blunt has a healthy sense of perspective. Having seen active service as an army reconnaissance officer in Kosovo, he has never been fazed by the barbs of internet trolls, usually turning their sneers to his advantage.
He’s at it again on the afterlove, using humour to disarm his critics. ‘People say the meanest things,’ he sings on opening track love me Better, addressing the insults that have been hurled his way.
He admits some of the flak might have been deserved before delivering the punchline: ‘saw you standing outside a bar / Would’ve said “you’re beautiful”, but I’ve used that line before.’ the song sets an engaging tone for an album of forthright, modern pop.
encouraged to be more spontaneous in the studio by his friend ed sheeran, a key collaborator here, Blunt has updated his approach, augmenting the soft rock stylings of 2013’ s moon landing with on-point digital bleeps and beats.
love me Better, written with OneRepublic’s Ryan tedder, is glitchy and hypnotic. the strippedback Bartender blends electronic rhythms and sheeran’s acoustic strumming. Blunt’s fragile falsetto, derided by his detractors, is enhanced by subtle, electronic tweaks, including auto-tune on lose my number and multi-tracking on Don’t Give me those eyes.
His songs have also grown more nuanced. Blunt, 43, married lawyer sofia Wellesley in 2014 and is now proud father to a son, giving him a fresh angle on his playboy past. Don’t Give me those eyes, dominated by Bee Gees-style harmonies, is a vivid power-ballad about resisting temptation.
California examines the transience of one-night stands and the shallow nature of life amid ‘the sun-kissed in-crowd’.
as he did on 2004’s no Bravery, inspired by his experiences on the front line in the Balkans, he looks at the world outside his window.
someone singing along is a catchy protest song that evolves into a plea for social harmony: ‘Just ’ cause some people don’t think like me / Does that really make them the enemy?’ But the overall mood is upbeat, particularly towards the end of a record that sometimes threatens to turn into the ed sheeran show.
make me Better, with the ubiquitous ed on percussion, guitar, mellotron and backing vocals, is a moving love song about marriage and fatherhood, while time Of Our lives, another sheeran co-write, addresses the doubts of a fiancee’s parents over their daughter’s relationship.
Closing track Paradise, written and sung with sheeran’s songwriting sidekick amy Wadge, bestows a slow-burning euphoric finale.
‘this record might be one that only I love,’ says Blunt, self-effacingly playing down expectations. But, with everything ed sheeran touches currently turning to pop gold, that’s highly unlikely.
THE Afterlove is out today. James Blunt starts a tour of the UK and Ireland at Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, on November 17 (alttickets.com).