erin petrie reviews the latest from the blue-eyed soul singer …
Close your eyes when listening to James Morrison, and you might think you’re hearing Stevie Wonder or another soul legend.
At least that’s what I thought when I first heard the British sensation in 2006 when he made briefly it into mainstream America’s ears with his hits “You Give Me Something” and “You Make It Real.” I had high hopes for him then. I still do — but that puts his latest album The Awakening squarely in the “disappointment” category.
While Morrison may have a beautiful voice that draws comparisons back to pop soul legends of the past, associations like that come with high expectations. This album is a solid body of work for the average artist but falls far from the expectations I’ve set for such a talented man.
The ultimate problem most definitely isn’t his soulful voice — it’s the lack of soul he delivers his songs with. Case in point: several of the songs are about Morrison’s recently deceased father, who spent his life struggling with alcoholism. But for such heavy material, you’d never know it. The deliverance is flat; his vocals are just lacking any kind of emotional undertone.
Rather than fill his third album with artistic gems showcasing his strongest suit — his voice — Morrison offers up a rather formulaic, forgetful but radio-friendly product. Not even bringing in Bernard Butler, an original member of Suede and acclaimed producer, could lift The Awakening out of mediocrity.
The album starts off a bit slow with a number of forgettable tracks and an odd duet with British pop/R&B singer Jessie J. It does hit a nice flow by track nine — one of the best of the album — the funky “Forever.” The title track is another enjoyable, upbeat number, but overall Morrison’s awakening is unfortunately rather anticlimatic.
