Songs For You, Truths For Me
James Morrison
Songs For You, Truths For Me
(Interscope Records)
By Cheryl Leong
Choice Cut : Nothing Ever Hurt Like You, Once When I Was Little, If You Don't Wanna Love Me
Official website: http://www.jamesmorrisonmusic.com/
Following the phenomenal success of his debut album Undiscovered, James Morrison is back with Songs For You, Truths For Me, a sophomore outing that promises fans out there more of his bristled timbre, and soulful melodies.
James Morrison's biggest selling point is his uniquely ragged vocals. Having a voice with character imbues raw soul and emotion into what might otherwise be construed as a chain of nondescript, radio-friendly creations.
This works very well on Morrison's particular brand of blue-eyed soul, especially in "Save Yourself," a charming, pleading love song. The brass and strings arrangement, together with his raspy vocals help lift this from being completely drenched in sappiness. "You Make It Real," his first single from the album, is similarly romantic, without being cloyingly so.
Co-written by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, "Please Don't Stop The Rain" is emotive and moody. The piano loops also add a nice tinge of melancholy. The much hyped-about collaboration with Nelly Furtado for "Broken Strings" doesn't really cut it. Albeit an interesting departure, it isn't quite up his alley. Not to mention Furtado's nasally vocals becomes quite a cacophony to the entire composition after a while.
"Nothing Ever Hurts Like You" takes on Motown, especially with peppy organs in the background that packs a cool finger-snapping punch. Slowing down the pace considerably, Morrison launches into a heartrendingly nostalgic ode to childhood innocence, with "Once When I Was Little."
Close your eyes and let the plaintive lull of "If You Don't Wanna Love Me" wash over you. Morrison's soft vocals match superbly with the guitar, piano and strings ensemble. "Dream On Hayley" is all about waiting for the right love to come along, while keeping the hope alive. Finally, Morrison ends the album on a high note, with "Love Is Hard," a guitar-twanging folksy number, that observes the realities of Love.
Songs For You, Truths For Me is essentially a low-key, down-tempo record. Sticking to the formula that has always worked for Morrison, along with a multitude of instrumentals for variety has made this a listenable effort. It is wrapped up with a distinctly bodied voice and often thoughtful lyrics. However, the formula also becomes repetitive and staid, and therefore also disposable, by the very end.
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