Jim
Warp Records
4/28/2008
As if the world wasn't difficult enough to comprehend, we have Jamie Lidell to contend with. The British techno-soul-beatbox-pyromaniac has made a career out of vexing audiences with a stylistic flavor draped in the melodies of Al Green and Sly Stone while maintaining the stage presence of the bastard child of Stiv Bators and Iggy Pop. Somewhere in the middle of punk rock and soul lies this… thing. And, well, it's amazing.
To judge Lidell on his theatrics is akin to judging Van Gogh on his penchant for self-mutilation… the sideshow is fantastic, but it's the art you've come to realize is his true accomplishment. With Jim, Jamie Lidell has created yet another masterpiece of nu-soul, so void of the "nu" that it can only be considered "soul." This is the album that finds common ground between the bleakest coffee-shop trilobite and his or her grandmother's gold lamet stretch pants. It's everything perfect about the music of the past, and everything that should be perfect about music of the now.
To choose any specific song on this album as a standout is an utter waste of time. "Jim" is a modern masterpiece, the likes of which have become so shockingly uncommon that the mere suggestion of such is now (I believe) a criminal offense. While modern music begs us all to discover our own self-awareness through a series of beeps and boops, Jamie has managed to bring us back to earth. He gives us that Van Morrison feel, that Al Green feel, that Isaac Hayes feel, but without ever feeling hackneyed or repetitive. If, after one listen, you question the greatness of this album, I ask you to do this: dim the lights, pour a glass of wine, put on "All I Wanna Do," and relax in your favorite chair with the woman you love. If, at any point during that process, you find yourself thinking of Thom Yorke, then I highly suggest you reevaluate your life… or at least see a couples' therapist.
No comments:
Post a Comment