ARTIST: The James Warner Prophecies TITLE: Life In General LABEL: self released GENRE: Rock TIME: 58:58 min SIZE: 80,2 MB RIP DATE: Jan-18-2006 RELEASE DATE: 000-00-2005 WEBSITE: n/a Track List: 01. Lie In 04:00 02. James Warner's Last Dying Words 03:25 03. Hazel 04:13 04. Never Been Here Gone 03:48 05. Piece Of History 05:04 06. The One 04:33 07. From This Point On 05:13 08. Unrequited One 03:20 09. Song For Caroline 04:14 10. Taken 04:01 11. The Itch 03:17 12. Life In General 13:50 Release Notes: This album has got it all. A wide selection of musical genres, two excellent vocalists plus a tight band. Don't know what they all look like, but I bet they're handsome and pretty with a fine sartorial style. They can serve up funky soul jazz ('Lie In'), melodic rock ('Taken' with its Judie Tzuke style intro), melancholic folk ('Hazel', 'Life in General'), ballsy blues and cod reggae ('James Warners Last Dying Words'). The wide melange of musical styles were initially somewhat confusing, as it's unclear what type of band they're trying to be. But then I got it and there's the rub. They can't be pigeonholed. How refreshing. Based in Derby, this CD was produced in lead singer Joe Brown's bedroom over the course of a year. His parents must either be long suffering, very supportive or just plain deaf, as the back beat on a lot of these tracks power along and provide little mercy to bedroom walls. Lucy Milford provides backing vocals that complement Brown's lead perfectly, and at times she's reminiscent of Clare Torrey (Pink Floyd's 'Great Gig in the Sky') particularly on my favourite track 'The One'. Upon which fellow female band member Kate Rowling not only plays keyboards, but also blows a mean flute. Who'd have thought it - a flute getting star billing? How very Jethro Tull; but it works and it works well. Whilst this CD is not necessarily staple listening for readers of this site, it's too good to be ignored. This band currently don't have a recording deal - we’ll they're not from London or Manchester are they ? - and this is simply criminal. Brown and cohorts have produced an album brimming with youthful exuberance coupled with a song-writing experience that far exceeds their tender years. Buy it now and catch them before they become too big, as they will. www.jameswarner.co.uk