The key songwriter (and voice) behind all those hum-along hits (Venus, Communicate, Pressure Man and so forth) is, obviously, no slouch with a melody.
It's just a shame he paints his pictures from a palette often limited to clichés both lyrical (''Run into the sea and let the waves crash over me'') and sonic (the backbeats and swooning strings are overplayed).
For an album recorded in his own home, the production quality of Saint could be regarded as either a shiny success or an opportunity lost. Here's another cliche: sometimes less is more.
- James Reid. Saint. Broken Records.
- 3 stars out of 5
Single download: Raised By Wolves
For those who like: James Blunt
- Shane Gilchrist
