Undiscovered (CD - 2007)

Personnel: James Morrison (acoustic guitar); Tony McAnaney, Neil Taylor, Alan Simpson (guitars); Eg White, Martin Terefe (acoustic guitar); David Davidson , David Angell (violin); Kristin Wilkinson (viola); Paul Brantley (cello); The Love Sponge Strings (strings); Philip Todd (saxophone); Guy Barker (trumpet); Nikolaj Torp, Marcus Brown (keyboards); Sven Lindvall, Steve Robson (bass instrument); Martin 'Blacknuss' Jonsson, Ian Thomas (drums); Andreas Olsson (drum programming); Delroy Ivanhoe, Evelyn F. Roberts, Rosemary Bain, Subrina Edwards, Lorraine Smith, Diane Charlemagne, Glen Scott, Joy Malcolm, Sharon White (background vocals).

By the time James Morrison's debut, UNDISCOVERED, was released in the United States in 2007, the singer-songwriter was already a hot commodity in his native England. Morrison's sound lives somewhere between the classic soul of Al Green and Stevie Wonder, and more folk-oriented artists like James Taylor (not to mention contemporaries like James Blunt and John Mayer). As a result, UNDISCOVERED has a definite retro feel, yet it still manages to sound contemporary in its approach and production. A mere 21 years old at the time of this album's release, Morrison proves here that he's an artist to keep an eye on as he develops and matures.

James Morrison's debut had already gone platinum in Britain before it was released in the U.S., and the young singer/songwriter has scored hit singles at home. With a pleasantly soulful voice that faintly recalls Stevie Wonder, he offers several slices of polite soul-pop that deftly manage to recall the heyday of soul while still managing to sound modern -- a neat balancing trick. However, smooth as Morrison sounds, for much of the album there's a distinct lack of passion in his voice -- and that's a prime ingredient of real soul music. Only on "Call the Police" does he summon any real anguish. "You Give Me Something," his first British hit, is catchy and memorable, but not a classic. Indeed, this is an album without soul classics. Ultimately it's more a piece of pop, but there's nothing wrong with that. Time will tell how ephemeral the songs will be, but Morrison shows here that he might become a real talent with some age and work, and maybe a little personal pain wouldn't hurt. He has a hand in all the songs here, showing definite qualities as a writer. Again, time will tell. ~ Chris Nickson minimize