Jim

Jamie Lidell

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 2008)
• Original Release Date: April 28, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warp Records
• ASIN: B0013F2MG6
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,319 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review
The record sounds simply wonderful: alternately nubby and spangled, it s like a cashmere throw that turns intermittently into a showman s cape. Lidell's voice has never sounded better than it does here. --Pitchfork

Product Description
Recorded in Berlin, Los Angeles and Paris, Jim takes even further what was started with Multiply, finding the balance between the spontaneous
creativity of his raw ideas and the careful craft and polish of a great record. Jim will switch you on in the morning, move you on the dance-floor and take you down in the small hours. It s a bold, promiscuously diverse album, mixing up gospel grooves, sweetly sung and fiercely passionate
soul, delicately moving ballads, thumping early R & B, synthed-up disco,
and even a touch of hillbilly funk. I haven t tried to hide the influences,
says Jamie Lidell ''This is the music I love.'' But, listen closely and you can
hear Jamie moving in new directions, creating a sound and style that is
entirely his own.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Infectious and unashamedly summery., April 29, 2008

By	Esthero - See all my reviews

If you haven't already made the acquaintance of left-field electronica label Warp's most unlikely artist, "Jim" is the ideal introduction to Jamie Lidell, a nerdy techno boffin who emerged from his chrysalis on breakthrough album "Multiply" as a consummate old-school soul showman, pulling off his musical throwback pastiche as effectively as Amy Winehouse.
Where Winehouse is bluesy and melodramatic, Lidell's music is more celebratory and infectious, though the gorgeous "Rope of Sand" touches on the sorrowful serenity of What's Going On-era Marvin Gaye.
Elsewhere, Lidell actually appears to be channelling Sam Cooke on "All I Wanna Do" and Al Green on "Green Light", while the electro-funk of "Figured Me Out" and pacey rhythm'n'blues workout "Hurricane" should get the crowd on their good foot.
"Jim" appears to be an honest approach from the accomplished musician, covering many everyday issues such as the confusion of emotions. And the record is a concise one, never detouring from a backbone made up from unabashed good feeling and trumpet-driven bluster.
Whether the subject matter is talking, listening, hurting or longing, the delivery - clipped and concrete - is there. For the majority of this album, his directional, well-paced verses serve him well.
The first thing to say about "Jim" is that it is unashamedly summery. Lidell's intentions are laid down in stone on "Another Day", brimming with sunshine bright pianos and an absurdly feelgood outline. Orchestral trumpets drive the cut along well. Most clarity is provided at the junctures where the performer truly unleashes himself, giving credence to that wonderfully grainy-but-polished set of lungs.
" Wait for Me" exudes a bandstand eccentricity hitting all the highest notes, "Out of My System" supplements xylophone spine shivers with an irresistible hook. Single "Little Bit of Feel Good" is archetypal Liddle, this time backed by gospel voices to deliver blissfully glorious melody.
Jamie's reputation among the cognoscenti has been as a maker of experimental electronic music. But God gave him a voice which seems to emanate from the southern states of the USA circa 1964 - a cross between Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.
Stylistically, this is where the music sits too, though with the kind of electronic twist you would expect of an artist with Lidell's pedigree
Throughout, the obvious comparisons to Stevie and Otis, Sam Cook and Al Green abound, a little something "Jim" can outlive.
Lidell has lit the touch paper, history will tell if he ignites the flames.
As said above, it's a genuine updating of the brassy, sassy, occasionally gospel-tinged soul music of the Stax era, along with a sprinkling of Stevie Wonder, the odd excursions into Jamiroquai-like funk territory with "Figured Me Out" and a nod towards Sly Stone/Al Green in "Green Light".
It's clever musically, but it wouldn't work without the compelling quality of that voice, which would be enough just of itself to make us sit up and take notice of Jamie Lidell.
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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Electronica with a retro Soul vibe. A true gem., April 30, 2008

By	starschaser (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

Born in Cambridgeshire rather than the Deep South, Jamie Lidell nevertheless has a remarkable soul voice, reminiscent of Otis Redding's. He began his career on the underground techno scene but, way before Duffy, Adele or Amy Winehouse, he was emulating the sounds of Stax and Motown.
His latest album is his best yet, buzzing with a sunshine funk that Stevie Wonder would be proud of (notably on the ebullient single, "Little Bit of Feel Good").
"Wait for Me", with its boogie-woogie piano and gospel vocals, is typical, lending a 40-year-old songwriting template a sheen of sassy modernity.
Like a New Age Stevie Winwood, Jamie has his own joyful road to the elixir of Stevie Wonder-sourced synthesised soul. The first taster from his forthcoming eagerly anticipated second single, "Little Bit Of Feeling Good" is as slinky, suave and downright superb as homegrown UK dance gets.
Jamie's vocal charm presents riches aplenty - elastic pitch, melodic purring, peachy phrasing - and the minimal funk backdrop, sashaying horns and rainbow-coloured back-up harmonies make this a true gem.
Signed to the hip electronica label Warp, and counting Feist and Gonzales (who plays piano here) among his pals, the Berlin-based Lidell would be expected to produce something pretty cool on his third album. But where its predecessor fused laptop beats with retro styling, Jim is an all-out stomping soul album. In its favour, the tunes are tight, and Lidell has a great soul voice.
It retains a keen sense of nostalgia, a sharp sense of style and mixes influences to generally pleasing effect. By the singer's own admission, it's a promiscuously diverse collection that mixes up gospel grooves, sweetly sung soul, delicate balladry, thumping early R&B, synthed up disco and even a little 'hillbilly funk'.
My picks: "Out Of My System", "All I Wanna Do", "Little Bit Of Feel Good, "Where D'You Go" and "Rope Of Sand".

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Rockferry
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little mo' Motown , July 6, 2008

By	Paul Endicott "Counting on Hair" (Delaware, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jamie Lidell is one of those artist that broke into a little bit of mainstream by being used in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. His last album Multiply was an absolute piece of art. It evoked the spirit of old time funk, a little motown, and rock and roll. This album is surely focused a little more on Motown. Jim is more polished a lot softer and happier. These songs could have easily been from a past time period. The songs are well written and very well performed. Any fan of Motown would surely fall in love with this album.