9 March 2011

Unearthed Review: Robert James. Four and a Half stars

| johnboy
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Robert James

Today Unearthed Review grooves along with Robert James.

There are over 700 Canberra bands with tracks on the TripleJUnearthed website. In 2011 we’re going to explore them. (Previous reviews are available)

Today’s random selection is Robert James who says of himself:

Hey guys, My name is Robert James, I am a very amateur musician, I have been playing music since 2005-06, My first song ever was “Swallowed by a Star” which started as a 30second audio clip and progressed into a full song, this song was the basis of me making more music. Lately though I have been enjoying music making alot more so I decided to let other people hear it, I hope you enjoy, I record my songs using my laptop mic, so that is why they have some bad static and do not sound that great.

Floppy haired kids claiming to be “very amateur” strike fear into the hearts of any reviewer.

So you can imagine what an amazing unfolding revelation Robert James’ three beautiful tracks on the unearthed website were.

Take the melodic parts of Nirvana (at least from Teen Spirit on), mix in a big splash of The Shins and you’ve got some pop bliss by Robert James.

Sure he’s angsty. But it’s the angst of beauty and vulnerability, not just undirected rage.

I’m torn on giving this five stars, but with the lyrics so front and centre there are just a couple of cheesy rhymes which distract from what he’s trying to do.

Definitely worth a download and a listen.

Four and a half stars.

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