Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extraordinary debut of a phenomenal talent, July 27, 2005
I discovered Jamie Cullum totally by chance, after seeing his name mentioned in reviews of some other singers here at Amazon, and I'm SO glad I did. Listened to the samples, then ordered both Pointless Nostalgic and his sophomore release, Twentysomething - and it was love at first listening.
The first word to use to describe Jamie is "real." His singing and piano playing are so exuberant, enthusiastic, and genuine, I think you'd have to be dead not to be transported into a state of bliss right along with him. The listener can tell immediately how very much this guy loves music: Jamie positively exudes a fetchingly youthful joy in performing that comes across even on a recording (I can only imagine what fun he must be to see in concert).
The second word is "original." What's most startling about Jamie, I think, is how very, very well he incorporates several genres of music to craft a style that is 100% his own. He must have grown up listening to many kinds of music; amazingly, Jamie has a feel for every style he tries. This is unusual: many rock singers, for example, fall flat when they attempt jazz; opera singers sometimes sound ridiculously overblown singing standards; but Jamie has a genuine feel and talent for jazz, rock, and standard ballads: he doesn't sound out of place performing any of these, but natural and comfortable throughout this album. It's a delight to hear.
But when I say his music is totally his own, I mean that you won't find another wannabe Sinatra clone here - and don't get me wrong, I adore some of the excellent younger proponents of the genre, like Harry Connick, Michael Buble, and young John Stevens. Jamie, though, attacks each selection in a fresh, new way I can pretty much guarantee you haven't heard anywhere before. He's completely at home with material as diverse as "You and the Night and the Music" and the excellent original, the title song, "Pointless Nostalgic," which is more in the rock-ballad vein. When he does a standard, he absolutely makes the song his own: you DON'T find yourself thinking about other, classic performances of the song, as you might very naturally sometimes with other singers. That in itself is extraordinary.
Jamie is evidently very popular and successful in his native UK, and I hope he finds the exposure in the US to become a major star here, as well. (I've heard him on the radio only once, on the Sunday morning jazz vocal show on our local public radio jazz station, WBGO; I think radio programmers may be puzzled as to what genre to slot Jamie into, which is a shame, because it's precisely his versatility that makes him very, very special and distinguishes him from the rest of the pack.)
If you're intrigued, get this album. If you like great jazz vocals, get this album. If you want some fresh new pop/rock, get Jamie's album. I could go on exuding superlatives for a long, long time about this guy, but I'll just close with a huge WOW.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cullum rocked the Vineyard, April 21, 2005
In response to a writer in the UK who thinks Jamie is "bland" I have to say he rocked the house at the Hot Tin Roof last summer on Martha's Vineyard. It was an amazing show and his music (who cares what you call it) is inspiring. We here in the U.S. are HUGE Jamie Cullum fans (also saw him at Irving Plaza) whether it's jazz, rock or pop!! All of his CD's are unforgettable!!
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36 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One Extraordinary Talent., August 31, 2003
By A Customer
This album, by the artiste Jamie Cullum, has received some extraordinary reviews on Amazon.co.uk. It deserves the attention of a wider audience. On the UK site, Jamie has been described as "the best modern male Jazz vocalist of our time" and "an amazing talent" who has produced a "stunning debut album". It's not surprising then, that he has recently signed a new £1,000,000 recording contract and won the rising star category at the BBC Jazz awards. There are some quality performances here. Jamie has a vocal style that is a mix of Harry Connick Junior, Mose Allison and Stevie Wonder. He is accompanied by musicians who enjoy long standing reputations on the British Jazz scene. His own piano style is highly lyrical and provides a fitting accompaniment to his to superlative vocals. Many of the tracks on this album have familiar titles but the interpretations are completely fresh. Well-worn Jazz standards are reworked to sound contemporary and hip. Most notable is the track `It Ain't Necessarily So'. This has been included on a recent UK compilation album alongside recordings by Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall and Frank Sinatra and it doesn't sound at all out of place. `Pointless Nostalgic' also includes more contemporary material. The title track is an original, destined to become a minor classic. Jamie's take on Radiohead's `High and Dry' is a revelation and a favourite of many fans. The track has an irresistible coda that will keep you humming for days. Somehow Jamie has produced a highly accessible Jazz album without in any way compromising his artistry. The album doesn't quite capture the sheer exuberance and panache of his current live concerts, but it's still an impressive achievement. Above all the fine quality of Jamie's voice, phrasing and languid laidback scat has to be heard to be believed, so buy this album and join the growing band of true believers.
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