Review: James Morrison "The Awakening"

I have always been a music junkie. I love all different kinds of music, with the exception of hardcore, growling death metal. One of my first musical obsessions, aside from New Kids On The Block, was Jim Morrison of The Doors. Yes, the man was psycho. Yes, he was on an inevitable path to self-destruction. Yes, he was quite frankly a bit of a cocky jerk....But he was also brilliant, gifted, and greatly talented.

So when I was approached about reviewing James Morrison's new album, "The Awakening", I was a little confused at first. Was The Lizard King alive and well somewhere, still recording albums? It couldn't be. James Douglas Morrison of The Doors would be my grandparents' age if he were alive today...So I was eager to find out who this other James Morrison was, and if he held the same magical allure that Mr. Mojo Risin' did to so many.

So who is James Morrison? James is a singer from the UK that has taken Europe by storm with his fiery, soulful voice and lyrics. His story of success is actually rather amazing, considering his challenges early on in his life. Just to give you a bit of history on James, his unique, soulful sound may have had its beginnings when he was diagnosed with Whooping Cough as a baby and was given just a 30% chance of survival. After miraculously pulling
through, James' childhood was riddled with strained family life - all of which contributed to his drive and passion for creating music. Recently, James lost his father to a long battle with alcoholism and depression almost
simultaneously as he himself became a father. The result? "The Awakening."

I recently had the opportunity to review James' new album in its entirety. I must say, only someone with a great deal of joy as well as tragedy could have written such an emotionally charged album. Each song carries with it a message of pain, of loss, of triumph, and most of all, of love, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit as we barrel through the journey we call life. On top of the raw vulnerability found in the lyrical contents of each and every song, James Morrison croons each song with true heartfelt emotion. You can really tell he is feeling every single word he's singing.

His voice? Amazing. James Morrison has a voice that is rich, soulful, and almost buttery. He reminds me a lot of a mix between Gavin DeGraw and Chris Renee from the current season of The X Factor. He has a phenomenal vocal range and understands how to convey the mood of the song by spilling his own heart into his music. This is a rarity nowadays, in my humble opinion. Sure, a lot of artists sing about their own pain...But it's rare that you can actually FEEL it when listening to a song. Check out one of my favorite songs from "The Awakening" to see what I mean....

Oooh...I get goosebumps when I hear his voice. Overall, I absolutely love "The Awakening" by James Morrison. This album is for anyone who has ever had a broken heart...Anyone who has suffered a loss...Anyone who ever maintained hope and grace in the face of adversity...For anyone who has ever loved...To put it simply, this album has something that will resonate with all of us. It embodies the human experience with beautiful melodies, raw emotion, and the voice of an angel. This man is more than an artist. He is a true musician. I cannot wait to buy copies of his previous albums. James Morrison definitely has a new fan in me. I would love to see him perform live! Keep your eyes open for much more of James Morrison, as he is set to make his US debut very, very soon!

Oh, and for the record: James Morrison is JUST as talented as that other Jim Morrison I mentioned earlier. Check him out! I think you'll agree that he is a truly gifted musician that we'll be seeing a lot more of for many years to come!

HOW TO CONNECT:

You can check out James Morrison on his website, on YouTube, as well as on Facebook and on twitter.



***Disclosure: I received a digital copy of the album for review purposes. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***