Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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Jamie Cullum

  • Twentysomething [Verve, 2004] B-

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Twentysomething [Verve, 2004]
This Brit is good enough at what he does to make you wonder why he bothers. With Norah Jones putting young-person-with-old-ideas shtick in the bank, the commercial logic we get. But beyond a cross-generational reach achievable in any genre and a swinging musicality he negotiates with too much heavy breathing, what's the artistic payoff? Writingwise he ain't Sondre Lerche, much less Nellie McKay. Interpretively, "Blame It on My Youth" exploits his age for good cheap irony, "The Wind Cries Mary" is a nice Mitch Mitchell tribute, and that's it. You say Harry Connick Jr. would never try a Radiohead cover? Score one for New Orleans. B-