The Pursuit
- 1.Just One Of Those Things
- 2.I'm All Over It
- 3.Wheels
- 4.If I Ruled The World
- 5.You And Me Are Gone
- 6.Don't Stop The Music
- 7.Love Ain't Gonna Let You Down
- 8.Mixtape
- 9.I Think I Love
- 10.We Run Things
- 11.Not While I'm Around
- 12.Music Is Through
Hover over to find tracks with previews.
About
Jamie Cullum is an artist deserving of superlatives but more complex than a simple set of adjectives can depict. If you know him as "just" a jazz musician or from his strikingly creative way with cover versions (among them, Radiohead's 'High & Dry' and Pharrell's 'Frontin') you're just familiar with the tip of the iceberg.
'The Pursuit', his fifth album and first new solo record in four years, is summed up by its title, taken from Nancy Mitford's classic novel, The Pursuit Of Love. "In life, we pursue everything. Life is one long pursuit," says Jamie and the album is just such a pursuit – a combination of his eclectic music tastes and enduring love of Jazz and its timeless standards.
It is a record that mixes his heritage with a thrilling selection of modern influences. Describing its sound he moves from Cole Porter to Rhianna to Aphex Twin in the same sentence. Jamie is a performer capable of delivering constant surprises with a talent elastic enough to evince a four-to-the-floor acoustic Ibiza song on the same record as a lushly recorded Jazz standard.
The making of 'The Pursuit' was a marathon not a sprint. Having decided to take time off after two years touring 2005's 'Catching Tales' and the juggernaut of praise and press that followed the previous album 2003's 'Twentysomething', Jamie turned to other projects. "I took a whole year off," he says, "I played in other people's bands and worked with other artists, I Dj'd, made dance music with my brother and travelled." He also found time to build his own studio, Terrified Studios, in London's Shepherd's Bush – "I call it that because I am so unknowledgeable about technology that I'm usually terrified when I'm in there," laughs Jamie.
"The Cole Porter cover at the start won't surprise you, but the house track at the end just might. Cullum's fifth album does justice to his musical influences: from the Portishead-tinged If I Ruled The World to the wonky groove of We Run Things, it's bold, experimental and the best thing Cullum's done."
Andy Morris - Music Week
The Pursuit
Submitted by Myfitnessbuddy on November 4, 2009 - 16:17Absolutely love the new album from the samplers esp
- I'm all over iy
- u and me are gone
- Don't stop the music (what can I say)
- music is through
Can't wait for the Tour!
Fantastic New Album!!!
Submitted by michelle254 on November 4, 2009 - 19:27This new album has been a long time coming, and all I can say is WOW Jamie is back.
This is undoubtedly his best album yet. It’s full of Jazz standards as well as the odd pop song thrown in for good measure. But don’t let that put you off, as it’s still the old Jamie. But this time round moving on to the next level with a new sound.
The first thing I noticed about this album is that all the tracks have a much fuller sound, the instruments on this album sound amazing.
The album starts with a classic Jamie jazz standard “Just One Of Those Things” that pulls you into his journey from the start.
The second song is Jamie’s new single “I’m All Over It”, this is a short funky pop song that will have your feet tapping from start to finish. It’s fun, vibrant and puts a smile on my face every time I hear it.
Next up is “Wheels” – I love this song and is very fitting to our current climate. This is again an upbeat pop song.
“If I Ruled The World” is a particular favourite of mine. I love how the track starts and you hear the base drum kick in. The lyrics are just beautiful. This song truly takes my breath away every time I hear it.
“You And Me Are Gone” this to me is pop and jazz all rolled into one, and it really works.
“Don’t Stop The Music”, this is an old Rihanna track, and Jamie’s slower version is amazing and really works. Jamie has a real knack for covering songs in a very unique way.
“Love Aint Goanna Let You Down” is a beautiful love song all about not letting love let you down. It always gives me goose bumps
“Mixtape” is brilliant and just as the title suggests this is all about a mixtape and how those of us old enough to remember, will recall making mixtapes for friends partners etc. This is a funky little number that always sounds good cranked up a notch or too.
“I Think I Love”, is a funny track, with lots of funny lines about a girl throwing up in the back of a cab. But still very beautiful in the serious parts.
“Not While I’m Around” - this is from the film Sweeney Todd, and Jamie’s version is just fantastic. His voice sounds amazing.
“Music is Through” – yet another funky tune that will definitely get you dancing
So you see a bit of everything for everyone there.
Jamie has really moved on as a musician and this will no doubt be his most successful album yet.
The Pursuit
Submitted by ltarlo on November 6, 2009 - 21:21This is certainly Jamie's best work to date and would go down as one of my top ten albums of the last 5 years. Particularly loved 'Love ain't gonna let you down'- a masterpiece! 5 stars, highly recommended.
Jamie's Best Album Yet
Submitted by CaitieCait on November 7, 2009 - 03:20This is the album where we get everything from traditional jazz ballads to thumping house beats to ingenious R&B covers. And there's Mixtape, which is quite possibly the best song I have ever heard. Period. Thank you, Jamie, for giving us an oracular spectacular.