The Afterlove [Deluxe Edition]

by James Blunt

Overview

On his fifth full-length, The Afterlove, British singer James Blunt makes a risky shift in his sensitive-guy-with-a-guitar sound, opting for a taut collection that tugs at the heartstrings with polished pop sheen. The slight departure seems to be a conscious decision, as the confidently self-aware Blunt sings that he "would have said 'you're beautiful'/but I used that line before," referencing his inescapable 2005 smash single. Recruiting OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder and Ed Sheeran on production, writing, and occasional backing vocals (the trio even joins forces on the pastoral "Time of Our Lives"), Blunt presents his most mainstream offering yet. Indeed, at certain points, his trademark wounded falsetto drifts into Adam Levine territory, turning songs like the soaring "Bartender," the pulsing "California," and the shimmering "Lose My Number" into the best Maroon 5 songs released in 2017. For longtime fans, these changes might be jarring. Even peppier tracks from the Mumford-esque Moon Landing -- take "Heart to Heart" for example -- had the distinct feeling that a band was at least somewhere in the vicinity during the recording sessions. And yet, Afterlove is not Blunt selling his soul to the pop gods. Standout "Don't Give Me Those Eyes" is Blunt's dramatic soft rock at its moving best, riding a pensive piano and orchestra to great emotional effect. The Sheeran-produced "Make Me Better" is genuine and sweet, while "Heartbeat" swells with urgency and drama. Earnest toe-tapper "Someone Singing Along" combines his past and present sounds with his affable personality most seamlessly, weaving guitar twang with a thumping heart as Blunt sings "even if some notes are wrong/I'm hoping someone's singing along/'cause just one voice is not enough/I need to hear from everyone/and even when I'm dead and gone/I'm hoping someone's singing along." Even though he's calling for empathy and strength, his own dreams of the music outliving the man seep through the finer points of the big message. Although he's pretty much guaranteed that legacy with "You're Beautiful," Afterlove is a brave bid for contemporary relevance in 2017, a wonderful step outside his comfort zone that is more memorable and exciting than much of his output this decade. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	03/31/2017
Label:	Atlantic
UPC:	0190295850005

Tracks

1. Love Me Better
2. Bartender
3. Lose My Number
4. Don't Give Me Those Eyes
5. Someone Singing Along
6. California
7. Make Me Better
8. Time of Our Lives
9. Heartbeat
10. Paradise
11. Courtney's Song
12. 2005
13. Over

Album Credits

Performance Credits

James Blunt   Primary Artist,Keyboards,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals
Robin Schulz   Primary Artist
Dewain Whitmore   Vocals (Background)
Zach Skelton   Guitar (Electric)
David Angell   Violin
Charlie Paxson   Drums
Glen Scott   Organ,Piano
Tim Harries   Double Bass
Monisa Angell   Viola,Violin
Juergen Dohr   Keyboards
Chris Pemberton   Piano,Wurlitzer
Madi Diaz   Vocals (Background)
Emily Warren   Vocals (Background)
Jonathan Martin Berry   Guitar
Johnny McDaid   Organ,Keyboards
John Garrison   Vocals (Background),Bass,Piano,Vocals (Background)
Guido Kramer   Keyboards
Dennis Bierbrodt   Keyboards
Amy Wadge   Vocals (Background)
Stephan Moccio   Piano,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Sasha Kristov   Bass
Ed Sheeran   Guitar,Mellotron,Percussion,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Jay Bicknell   Keyboards
John Paricelli   Guitar
Dewaine Whitemore   Vocals (Background)
Will Hicks   Vocals (Background)
Carol Rabinowitz   Cello
Andrew DeRoberts   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Florian Reutter   Keyboards
Paul Bushnell   Bass
Steve Robson   Bass,Guitar,Keyboards
David Davidson   Violin
Ryan Tedder   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Karl Brazil   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Martin Terefe   Bass,Piano,Keyboards,Guitar (Electric)
Danny Parker   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Steve Mac   Keyboards
Aaron Sterling   Drums
Teddy Geiger   Synthesizer,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Ian Burdge   Cello
Luke Potashnick   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Kristoffer Sonne   Drums

Technical Credits

Dewain Whitmore   Composer
Zach Skelton   Composer,Producer,Programming
Emil Romer   Assistant Engineer
Archie Carter   Assistant Engineer
Robert Sellens   Assistant Engineer
Kylen Deporter   Assistant Engineer
Chris Laws   Engineer
Danny Parker   Composer,Producer
Juergen Dohr   Programming
Emily Warren   Composer
Junkx   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming
Joe Rubel   Engineer,Drum Programming
Oskar Winberg   Engineer
Stuart Hawkes   Mastering
Johnny McDaid   Composer
Guido Kramer   Programming
Michael Schwabe   Mastering
Dennis Bierbrodt   Programming
Sam Miller   Engineer
Maureen McDonald   Composer,Lyricist
Amy Wadge   Composer
Stephan Moccio   Composer,Producer,Drum Programming
Ed Sheeran   Composer,Producer
Mike Tuccillo   Engineer,Producer
Jay Bicknell   Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming,Additional Production
Sam Klempner   Programming
Rich Rich   Engineer
Dewaine Whitemore   Composer
Robin Schulz   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming
Will Hicks   Engineer,Drum Programming
Andrew DeRoberts   Producer,Programming
Florian Reutter   Programming
Miles Comaskey   Mixing Engineer
Stephenie Jones   Composer
Serban Ghenea   Mixing
Tony Maserati   Mixing
Craig Silvey   Mixing
Steve Robson   Composer,Producer,Programming
David Davidson   Arranger,String Arrangements
Cenzo Townshend   Mixing
John Hanes   Mixing Engineer
Ryan Tedder   Composer,Producer,Programming
Roy Reckless   Mastering
Martin Terefe   Producer,Programming
James Blunt   Composer,Lyricist
Oscar Winberg   Engineer
Steve Mac   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming
Teddy Geiger   Composer,Producer,Programming
Bobby Shin   Engineer,String Engineer
Daniel Pursey   Engineer