...but there's still no sign of him on DiS.
There a review pending? Or shall I do it myself? One of the best releases of 2008 so far and not a dickybird said about it...
I'll start by saying it's probably the best feel-good soul record released since the 70s.
I think the album is good
But I'm a huge Super_Collider and "Muddlin Gear" fan, and judging by the J*miroquai comparison in the DiS singles round up a few weeks ago to 'Little Bit Of Feel Good' I get the feeling that JIM's strength, "the best feel-good soul record released since the 70s", may not be enough for the people who enjoyed the idiosyncrasy of his earlier work. I mean, there's nothing on the new album that condenses not just 70s soul, but also 90s techno, as well as 'The City' from Multiply.
I love some Super Collider tracks
its so good.
I think it's a purposeful step away from the electro
stuff he does - Multiply was basically straddling the line between his Muddlin' Gear album (and his work with Vogel as Super_Collider) and his desire to bring back old-school soul, so it was a very odd hybrid album that in all probability spawned Gnarls Barkley (for its sins).
Jim just feels completely relaxed and carefree in comparison to Multiply's identity turbulence, it's Lidell literally 'opening up'. I can understand the J*miroquai comparisons to a couple of songs but it's really only because of the vocal delivery he uses on those tracks. I doubt WARP would have accepted the album if they thought that, either.
I just think it's odd that a decent release has gone un-reviewed on DiS and that there seem to be so few people here who even know about the album. Or even Lidell, for that matter.
i loved multiply
but am wary of what i've heard of the new one
don't be
as stated by Yvash, it's just Jamie being unashamedly open about his love of soul music. He looked like he was having the time of his life actually performing as the front man to a band at Koko last week. There's a great video interview on Pitchfork at the moment with him basically just saying he's being completely brazen about all of his influences, and doing what he always thought he would never be able to, i.e. a straight-up soul album.
Unless you have something against damn fine summertime soul, get this album straight away. The only thing letting it down slightly is the repetitive nature of the lyrics throughout the album (the Guardian review hits the nail on the head in its otherwise positive review), but that doesn't stop it being the album of 2008 for me so far.
i reckon i'll give it a shot
is there anything as feelgood-soul as "multiply" on it?
easily
the first track, 'Another Day', is, in my opinion, better than anything off Multiply, although Multiply probably edges it as an album overall.
Warp
were very wary of 'Multiply' and didn't market it well at all ... it was originally intended to be released with a DVD documenting Jamie live, to show his unique 'building' of the tracks, but Warp insisted it was released without it. If Warp had received JIM from an outsider, there's no way in hell they'd release it. We've had watered-down soul and funk for so long now that it takes balls for Jamie to follow his heart and release a 'real' (ie. authentic) soul album that invites lazy criticism.
And still no DiS review.
What a shame, this record deserves better than to be ignored.
DiS doesn't care about black people
I think sonically multiply is a more interesting listen
but I much prefer the songwriting on JIM
"feel-good" hits the nail on the head
I grimace a bit when people mention jamiroquai and gnarls barkley, as lidell literally wees on both of them from a great height
Indeed.
I mentioned GB purely because I'm pretty sure Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse had Multiply on loop for a while. The difference is, they dumbed it down and sought a label who have half an idea about marketting.
Really like it
It's great album to play in the sunshine. There's 1 track where I was reminded of Jamiroquai but good Jamiroquai. I lurve the first couple of tracks - but the whole album is great.