Been a fan of this kid for about a year. What a strange experience this gig at Hammersmith last night was. Perhaps the first in all my years that i have really enjoyed for an hour or so before having a sudden U-turn and within another half an hour really badly wanting to leave. I was probably alone in that. All the 20-somethings down the front seemed to be adoring him, as demanded. And there's the problem.
I think he writes terrific pop/rock songs, a couple of them really quite affecting, and that choon-packed album of his is one of the most consistently good I've heard in a while. Live, he is terribly safe, choreographed and humourless, yet all the while posing pigeon-toed and throwing cocksure little shapes like the proper rock star he just isn't. I've seen a few of the great live acts over the years and this lad doesn't have it.
Last year I saw Ryan Adams at the same venue. He was edgy, funny, unpredictable and brilliant and sounded magnificent. Bay is a sanitised, safe pop star marketing himself essentially at young women. Fair enough. It's a living. But it seems to me he wants so much to be more than that and it's disappointing, I guess, with the songwriting talent he has, and a decent voice, for him to settle for being Harry Styles with cheekbones, a trilby and a vintage Epiphone.
(Note to self...must buy a Tone King Sky King)
Comments
Interesting. I have a bit of a mixed view on him. I like the album but find some of the songs just a little too resolved and safe, no edge at all. But then, something like Scars is sublime, and the guitar tone and minamilist playing a real revelation.
But, it does need to be a few more steps removed from commercial pop-pap to be really credible IMO.
I had the album playing the other day, can't remember which song, and the wife said "are you listening to Justin Bieber!!!?" that kinda said something about how it could be percieved.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
His album is very good and the back story looks solid and genuine. If he can produce another two great albums I would think that will will trump the mis-steps along the way, which might include him getting a bit carried away with the fame thing.
JohnPerry's review and thoughts are interesting. Thanks for posting.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
What you have to be really wary of is those Dad Dancing at a Wedding moments.
I think Peter Frampton is getting too close for comfort. :-O :-O :-O
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0RyXfjjOfg
I said maybe.....
I said maybe.....
I agree with most of the comments above in that I'm not a huge fan of James but again he comes accross wel in this. Still hasn't changed my Mind though