Pointless Nostalgic – Jamie Cullum

Year Released: 2002

Label: Candid

Year Bought: Can't Remember

Jamie Cullum burst into the nation's consciousness with a performance on Parkinson in April 2003, a showing that was soon followed by the huge-selling album 'Twentysomething'.

It was 2002's 'Pointless Nostalgic' that put Cullum on Parky's radar, and shows the jazz singer and pianist beginning to hone the act that would make him such a breakthrough.

There's a host of standards here – 'In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning'. 'It Ain't Necessarily So', 'I Can't Get Started' – alongside a couple of originals and a cover of Radiohead's 'High And Dry'.

I remember that song being a big deal at the time for some reason. I think it was seen as rare merging of jazz and alt-rock. Cullum's version is not bad, and actually keeps it quite light and subdued without slipping into a dirge.

Cullum was just 23 when this was recorded, and perhaps it's his youth that means he lacks the gravity to really pull off the ballads.

His voice bounces around well on tunes like 'Too Close For Comfort', 'Well You Needn't' and 'You And The Night And The Music', but on 'In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning' you're left unconvinced, and it's the saxophone solo on 'A Time For Love' that stands out, not the vocals.

The two originals – 'Pointless Nostalgic' and 'I Want To Be A Popstar' – aren't up too much, and at 55 minutes the album is way too long.

Very much a work-in-progress record.

4/10

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