Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another British invasion?, March 14, 2006
Who would have thought that a throwback CD that takes us back to the R&B days of forty years ago could come from a singer and musician from Colchester, England? I didn't expect it but I'm glad I discovered James Hunter while flipping through the radio dials one day. I heard the tail end of "Don't Come Back" (Track 10) and was hooked. The voice sounded familiar and I expected to recognize the name of the singer afterwards but I had no clue. Intrigued, I went out and purchased the CD. I was not disappointed and it will remain near the top of my play list for quite some time.
"People Gonna Talk" is Hunter's first U.S.-release. It contains 14 excellent tracks, all written by Hunter. The title track, People Gonna Talk, Mollena, and Don't Come Back, were particularly good. Hunter does well both on the upbeat tracks and the more mournful, bluesy tracks. His voice and his guitar playing work well on both types of song.
The arrangements are classic, relatively simple R&B arrangements that had a strong Memphis and Southern feel to it. Hunter has a distinctive voice with a good range that at times had echoes of Ray Charles, Otis Redding and Aaron Neville. This is not to say that Hunter can match any of those giants but it is clear that Hunter's voice has some common musical DNA with all three which is pretty high praise. The downside to hearing these echoes is the concern that Hunter is more imitative than creative. That is a legitimate concern to be sure but after listening to the CD a number of times I think it safe to say that Hunter does have a style of his own even while paying homage to musicians he must have learned from while he was growing up.
If you like classic R&B you will like People Gonna Talk. The CD had the dual benefit of bringing back fond memories of the music of my youth with fresh new songs but a talented, young performer.
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31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Real Deal, March 19, 2006
Not since Lenny Kravitz has an artist come on the scene with new music that sounds like it was 40 years old...and that's as far as you can get from being a bad thing. Thank God for Rounder Records, and for independent labels.
This man doesn't sound like anybody but James Hunter, influences notwithstanding, and you could have picked my teeth off the floor when I heard him speak on NPR. I couldn't believe a man that spoke like this could sound like this. I was sold instantly.
You know, if young black artists would rather sound like [name your favorite god-awful rap music artist] than Dee Clark, Billy Stewart, and Jackie Wilson, they've got only themselves to blame if the Europeans pick up the ball they so willingly let slip from their hands. More power to them! This is the stuff I grew up with and love. I'm ecstatic to find new material in the new millennium that's not a remake that has that same sound. And if it weren't for the Internet (and public radio), nobody'd ever know about this artist.
I always wanted to know why there couldn't be singers today that can write their own songs and have a distinct style yet still pay homage to the past. Folks, we've found the one artist so far in the world that can do it!
It's about time.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"People Gonna Talk" ... About James Hunter's Soulful Music!, March 8, 2006
James Hunter's musical style harkens back to the days of classic 50's and early 60's R&B and soul, yet is wonderfully fresh and original and pays homage to these wonderful, vintage sounds without simply imitating them. Listen to James Hunter's first U.S. CD release "People Gonna Talk" and you will hear parts Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, James Brown and Ray Charles. Having toured and played with Van Morrison in the 1990's, Van asserts that "James is one of the best kept secrets in British R'n'B and Soul. Check Him Out." James Hunter's band features a baritone and tenor saxophone, stand-up bass, drums, and skillful guitar played by James himself. The 14 top-notch original songs on "People Gonna Talk" contain infectious vocals and songwriting that will stick in your head after the very first listen. The catchy title track features a ska beat to give the song a classic, rhythmic feel. Other standout songs include "Talkin 'Bout My Love", "I'll Walk Away" and "No Smoke Without Fire", which blends an upbeat horn arrangement with James Hunter's brilliant vocals and clever songwriting:
The alibi you sold me
You know it ain't water tight
A little birdie told me
And I got you dead to rights
No one's calling you a liar but
There's no smoke without fire
The liner notes to this CD contain all of the lyrics as well as some cool artwork and illustrations of the band members drawn by James Hunter himself.
If you ever get the opportunity to see James Hunter perform live, treat yourself and you'll be very glad you did. I recently saw James Hunter perform in Philadelphia at the World Cafe Live, and his touring band was superb ... his set was exciting and fun and really showcased James' impassioned vocals and skilled guitar-playing as well as impressive sax and bass solos. I actually got the opportunity to meet and talk briefly with James himself before his show in Philly, and one thing was very clear ... that in additon to being a talented musician and singer, James Hunter is one of the nicest and friendliest blokes you'll ever meet.
"People Gonna Talk" alright, about James Hunter's wonderfully soulful music!
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
~ James Hunter
~ Plant, Robert/Krauss, Alison
~ Van Morrison
~ Eli"paperboy"reed & the True Loves
~ Sharon Jones
by James Hunter 
