Jamie Cullum
The Pursuit
www.universalmusicgroup.com
By George W. Harris

One of the great white hopes of the crossover genre, singer/pianist
Jamie Cullum has finally put out his first solo album in 4 years after
having mega hits like “Heard It All Before,” “Catching Tales” and “In
The Mind of Jamie Cullum.” His raspy and earth-toned voice is a big
draw for the Buble/Connick/Cincotti fan club, and he’s got the know-how
for real jazz fans as well.

I’m probably going to get ripped for this, but this release just sounds
like he’s short of ideas. His reading of Cole Porter’s “Just One Of
Those Things” comes off too bombastically, and while some of the tunes
like “I’m All Over It” have a catchy chorus, the lyrical themes of
love/love-lost/lust sound too contrived. By the time he drops an F-bomb
on “Music Is Through,” I’m reminded of a quote from the great thinker
Otto Scott, “People swear when they run out of ideas.”