ARTiST: Phil Campbell
TiTLE: Joy
LABEL: Safehouse Recordings
GENRE: Rock
TiME: 51:23 min
SiZE: 62,10 MB
BiTRATE: VBRkbps
RiP DATE: Mar-06-2007
RELEASE DATE: Mar-12-2007
WEBSiTE: n/a
Track List:
01. Maps 04:17
02. Joy 04:17
03. Sweet Sister 03:25
04. Cold Engines 04:33
05. Little Hand 04:18
06. Isn't She Beautiful 03:53
07. Hey Mama 02:11
08. Same Old Me 03:57
09. After The Garden 03:33
10. Baby Blue 03:25
11. Roses At Your Feet 04:11
12. Walls 04:51
13. Should've Stayed At Home 04:32
Release Notes:
I always need a really great new record to get my
music reviewing juices pumping again at this time of
year. And this is it! Phil Campbell came to my
attention when my son handed me a music magazine
cover-mount CD back in 1997 which included a song by
Campbell called ?Hope, Faith And You.? I was blown
away by the song and the performance, eventually
acquiring the full album FRESH NEW LIFE a few weeks
later. It was quickly added to my list of
favourite/best albums ever. A year later I starting
writing about music and tried to trace Campbell but
to no avail ? he had disappeared along with his
fabulous album. It took me nearly three years to
find him playing with his band White Buffalo and he
told me his story during an interview that took
place soon after I found him. White Buffalo released
two superb albums before the band split and Campbell
eventually recommenced a solo career playing many
gigs in and around London. This is therefore his
second solo album and in my book it?s set to join
his first album in my list of best ever albums.
Amongst the burgeoning list of ?singer/songwriters?
Campbell enjoys a unique position with his very
distinctive, expressive vocal style, and wonderful
song writing. In addition, as this album
illustrates, he plays several instruments (majoring
on guitar and keyboards), while in true indie
tradition, recorded the whole album himself. Opener
? Maps? has a brash, bright and breezy instrumental
intro like something out of an old Dylan album.
Campbell is a master at creating door-opening
melodies and this is no exception. Add to these
strong and sincere lyrics, wonderful vocal and a
bone-shaking rhythm and you have ?the perfect
opening line.? Title track ?Joy? is next and just
about sums up everything that?s great about this
superb artist; a blinding melody, telling lyrics,
and an expressive vocal with the power to move one
to tears. I doubt whether a more beautiful song will
be released in 2007. Next up is another favourite of
mine, ?Sweet Sister,? which underlines Campbell?s
ability to put deeply held emotional feelings into
songs that cannot fail to involve and move the
listener. And unlike the Keanes, Snow Patrols and
Blunts of this world you will not be exposed to
?manufactured? sentiments designed to conquer
charts, and dominate the airwaves. The real deal
continues with the subtle country folk tones of
?Cold Engines? which flows gently punctuated by a
vocal that climbs to almost impossible tonal heights
before sinking back into contemplation. Piano
features heavily here adding drama and intense
beauty. The subtle country feel extends to the next
acoustic track ?A Little Hard? and I?m strongly
reminded of Ryan Adams on his very best form, and
like a solo Adams, that piano returns to punch the
message home. The joyous vibe of ?Isn?t She
Beautiful? makes one want to know who this
attractive person really is? ?Hey Mama? is an
extraordinary and epic track which reminds me of an
early, rocking Beatles song. ?Same Old Me? wanders
in quietly and then proceeds to win me over with its
steady pace, contemplative vocal and superb guitar
passages. ?After The Garden has a distinct blues
feel with piano and strings supporting the most
sincere and expressive vocal on the record. It?s a
heartbreaker? The record culminates in the glacial
and deeply introspective ?Should?ve Stayed At Home
that tells the story of a drug induced visit to an
A&E department. The vocal performance, which at
times descends to a whimper, is one of the most
convincing and moving I have ever heard.
Campbell has ridden the crashing waves of success,
rejection and abuse to become the UK?s best and most
distinctive singer/songwriter. I very much doubt
whether I?ll hear a better singer/songwriter album
in 2007 and, like FRESH NEW LIFE, I regard this as a
very special album and absolutely essential
listening.