The Pursuit
- 1.Just One Of Those Things
- 2.I'm All Over It
- 3.Wheels
- 4.If I Ruled The World
- 5.You And Me Are Gone
- 6.Don't Stop The Music
- 7.Love Ain't Gonna Let You Down
- 8.Mixtape
- 9.I Think I Love
- 10.We Run Things
- 11.Not While I'm Around
- 12.Music Is Through
Hover over to find tracks with previews.
About
Jamie Cullum is an artist deserving of superlatives but more complex than a simple set of adjectives can depict. If you know him as "just" a jazz musician or from his strikingly creative way with cover versions (among them, Radiohead's 'High & Dry' and Pharrell's 'Frontin') you're just familiar with the tip of the iceberg.
'The Pursuit', his fifth album and first new solo record in four years, is summed up by its title, taken from Nancy Mitford's classic novel, The Pursuit Of Love. "In life, we pursue everything. Life is one long pursuit," says Jamie and the album is just such a pursuit – a combination of his eclectic music tastes and enduring love of Jazz and its timeless standards.
It is a record that mixes his heritage with a thrilling selection of modern influences. Describing its sound he moves from Cole Porter to Rhianna to Aphex Twin in the same sentence. Jamie is a performer capable of delivering constant surprises with a talent elastic enough to evince a four-to-the-floor acoustic Ibiza song on the same record as a lushly recorded Jazz standard.
The making of 'The Pursuit' was a marathon not a sprint. Having decided to take time off after two years touring 2005's 'Catching Tales' and the juggernaut of praise and press that followed the previous album 2003's 'Twentysomething', Jamie turned to other projects. "I took a whole year off," he says, "I played in other people's bands and worked with other artists, I Dj'd, made dance music with my brother and travelled." He also found time to build his own studio, Terrified Studios, in London's Shepherd's Bush – "I call it that because I am so unknowledgeable about technology that I'm usually terrified when I'm in there," laughs Jamie.
"The Cole Porter cover at the start won't surprise you, but the house track at the end just might. Cullum's fifth album does justice to his musical influences: from the Portishead-tinged If I Ruled The World to the wonky groove of We Run Things, it's bold, experimental and the best thing Cullum's done."
Andy Morris - Music Week
The Pursuit: Flawless!
Submitted by kirstymunns@hot... on January 13, 2010 - 15:27After months of waiting (which seemed like years), Jamie's new album - The Pursuit, fell into my hands at Christmas and since then I haven't put it down.
'Just One Of Those Things' at the very beginning of the album gets you in the mood as you discover Jamie's phenominal style through a Cole Porter cover. Once you start singing along to the chorus on your very first play of the track you know you are hooked.
'I'm All Over It' was actually the first track I had ever heard from this album, and once you hear it once on a TV show, it will leave you wanting to hear it again, and you'll soon find yourself looking for it on You Tube if you haven't got the album. In this track, Jamie brings in his pop influences, with a hint of fresh jazz to top it all off. A truly inspirational piece.
'Wheels' is one of those tracks that after a couple of plays, becomes your favourite song. The simple tune played on the piano along with the drum beat in the background instantly lifts you up off your feet, dancing and singing along to Jamie's perfect vocals.
'If I Ruled The World' is possibly the best cover I have ever heard, from Jamie's lips and underneath his fingers it becomes more likeable and you feel how he is feeling as you sing along too.
'You And Me Are Gone' will have feet tapping, hands clapping and hips shaking as you find yourself trying to skat sing just like Jamie at the start of the track - here the jazz magic shines through the music and you can tell he's having fun singing it.
Then comes in Jamie's cover of Rihanna's 'Don't Stop The Music', and dare I say its actually better than the original. The song feels less artifical in Jamie's version, and the variety of musical techniques he uses easily draw you in.
Next up is 'Love Ain't Gonna Let You Down', which shows how everyone feels when their in love. Here, you can tell Jamie sings from the heart, if you ever doubted it before.
The lyrics in 'Mixtape' are so inventive and creative, you wonder how Jamie ever came up with them. This track is like a piece of Jamie - you hear about his music influences and how much he thrives on music. One hell of a great track.
'I Think I Love' is an astonishly beautiful love song, it makes you smile just at the thought of someone singing it. Jamie's imagination captures this track. The imperfectness of this song makes it feel more real and also makes it a lot better.
'We Run Things' gives birth to Jamie's Electronic Music side. The callaboration of the many different instruments used in this track definately makes an interesting and exciting song.
Jamie's unique voice in 'Not While I'm Around' submerges this song to make it feel extra special. Its easy listening and his piano skills are amazing as ever.
'Music Is Through' is such a good way to end the CD, it leaves you wanting more once you finish listening to the album. This track gets you jumping around, shouting along and head banging. It makes you feel good about yourself, sending a message to all those people who have messed you around in the past, showing them how you really feel.
Well, what can I say? A fascinating and remarkable album. If you haven't got it, go and buy it! Just because Jamie's music might not be what you regularly buy, doesn't mean you can't start listening to it. Young or old, Jazz Fan, Rock Fan, Pop Fan? You'll love it.
The Pursuit
Submitted by Leon20 on January 1, 2010 - 14:57Very creative album with various styles. I have been playing this for weeks and still I hear new instrument lines or briljant fragments in the songs. Lovely!
Leon from the Netherlands
Pursuit
Submitted by fresno1000 on January 20, 2010 - 20:23compared with the other albums, this is not like me, because there is no jazz
More Jazz!! (español)
Submitted by fresno1000 on January 20, 2010 - 20:29el album le falta mas jazz. Los solos de piano son muy buenos...