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Elly Roberts reviews
Universal
- Released: May 2008
- Rating: 4/10
- Vote and comment on this album:
Sugar coated balladeering for girls !
There arent many singer-songwriters who appeal to both genders the ladieees will lap this one up.
Having slogged away providing songs for Lemar, Delta Goodrem with Gary Barlowa big fan, it was only a matter of time before his arm was twisted for a debut,and so here it is. Putting It To Bed wont exactly wow you as such.With the conveyer belt churning out singer songwriters at sonic speed its hardto know where to start looking.
Much of the album is a relaxing walk in the park: unchallenging, smooth, andfairly predictable. It is sweet nevertheless, if sweet is your bag. Danielisnt exactly your James Blunt mould of writer, but it is targeted at theRadio 2 brigade.Having supported Take That it tells you which market hes aiming for. Theproduction and style is surprisingly very American.
It also lacks a killertrack to give it a nudge into the charts; with upbeat It Aint Workingbeing a long shot. The combination of oft-falsetto voice, piano and stringsare sure to win over the girlies especially the melancholy and romance whichhe does, reasonably well. You could put this on a find it quite forgettable astheres nothing specific that slaps you across the face. Its the kind ofstuff you hear as background music (or muzak) at weddings et al.
Actually, the likes of Ben Fold, Ben Lee, (yes, even James Blunt) and JackSavoretti who he sounds remarkably like – are doing it much better. Plus,at 30, he may be a tad too old to crack a teeny target.
It opens with tinkling piano and strings and lots of mhhs and a Jamie Cullumvocal style on the title track, then he shifts up a gear for Digging My Heels In, thrusting bags of melody and harmonies with subliminalfalsetto. The next two See You Soon and Endurance would slot wellonto a Take That album, especially the latter, with it soaring chorus.
In contradiction,Rise Above It All, doesnt do what it says on the tin, proving to bea limp and squiggy, ballad, no less. After three more snoozy, ballads, (whatelse?) he breaks sweat (just) on the albums best track New Kind Of Life,only to revert to base on sleepy Rocket Science.
His final lyrics are, “..its all over.” – Thankfully.
File under: You can live without it.
Weblink:timdanielofficial.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Putting It To Bed
2. Digging My Heels In
3. See You Soon
4. Endurance
5. Rise Above It All
6. It Aint Working
7. Above Water
8. Youre Needed
9. Growing Song
10. New Kind Of Life
11. Rocket Science
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.