2008 Woodie Awards
Jamie Lidell hits it big with 'Jim'
Jonathan Gardner
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Jamie Lidell has more soul than a British man in his 30s with Elvis Costello glasses deserves to have.
Known for his manic live shows, and fresh from an opening slot for Beck, Lidell is poised for a big breakthrough and Jim could be the album that gives it to him.
Lidell's sound owes more than a little bit to Motown and Otis Redding, but he also incorporates a more recent electronic influence in ways that are subtle, but noticeable.
The first single, "A Little Bit of Feel Good," is a catchy song with jangle and swagger to spare, along with some unusual vocal and horn instrumentation.
Lyrically the song veers between showing someone who's in love, and someone who's a little too much in love.
Meanwhile, the delightfully absurd video starts with Lidell romancing a unicorn and gets more ridiculous from there.
"Where D'You Go," while being the shortest song on the album, also may be its most memorable, with a deceptively simple clap-and-piano backing track and a frantic performance from Lidell.
Other highlights include the soulful "Figured Me Out" and the bluesy "Out of My System."
Lidell is an incredibly energetic performer, which makes for a surprisingly fast listen.
However, if he has a problem, it's that he tends to sacrifice a little too much of the energy on the slower songs.
"All I Wanna Do" is the most prominent example of this. It's a pretty song, but at five minutes and 15 seconds, it is also the longest one on the album and slows things down a little too much after its preceding craziness.
"Rope of Sand," works better, with Lidell's thoughtful vocals and the sparse production making the song a kind of hangover after the mania of the first nine tracks.
In a way, the Beck connection is telling.
Lidell is willing to take chances and go to some silly places, but the result is almost always fascinating to hear.
Ultimately, "Jim's" energy and catchiness make it impossible not to like it. The album will make a great soundtrack for this summer and, if there's any justice, it will make Lidell into a big star.
Grade: A-
Known for his manic live shows, and fresh from an opening slot for Beck, Lidell is poised for a big breakthrough and Jim could be the album that gives it to him.
Lidell's sound owes more than a little bit to Motown and Otis Redding, but he also incorporates a more recent electronic influence in ways that are subtle, but noticeable.
The first single, "A Little Bit of Feel Good," is a catchy song with jangle and swagger to spare, along with some unusual vocal and horn instrumentation.
Lyrically the song veers between showing someone who's in love, and someone who's a little too much in love.
Meanwhile, the delightfully absurd video starts with Lidell romancing a unicorn and gets more ridiculous from there.
"Where D'You Go," while being the shortest song on the album, also may be its most memorable, with a deceptively simple clap-and-piano backing track and a frantic performance from Lidell.
Other highlights include the soulful "Figured Me Out" and the bluesy "Out of My System."
Lidell is an incredibly energetic performer, which makes for a surprisingly fast listen.
However, if he has a problem, it's that he tends to sacrifice a little too much of the energy on the slower songs.
"All I Wanna Do" is the most prominent example of this. It's a pretty song, but at five minutes and 15 seconds, it is also the longest one on the album and slows things down a little too much after its preceding craziness.
"Rope of Sand," works better, with Lidell's thoughtful vocals and the sparse production making the song a kind of hangover after the mania of the first nine tracks.
In a way, the Beck connection is telling.
Lidell is willing to take chances and go to some silly places, but the result is almost always fascinating to hear.
Ultimately, "Jim's" energy and catchiness make it impossible not to like it. The album will make a great soundtrack for this summer and, if there's any justice, it will make Lidell into a big star.
Grade: A-
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