Release Date: May 7, 2021
Genre(s): Blues, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Blues
Record label: Columbia
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Ever since Ed Sheeran began his meteoric rise to All Consuming Musical Overlord a decade ago, there’s been a never-ending debate in “authenticity” in music. No series of a TV talent show is complete without an endless parade of Very Serious Young Men armed with facial hair, tattoos and guitars, and the amount of identikit troubadours in the charts show that it’s a notion that’s massively successful. Rory Graham, otherwise known as Rag’n’Bone Man, may have sprung from that template, but there’s always been something about him that sets him aside from his contemporaries.
Opener "Fireflies" is soothing, authentic and heartfelt, while "Breath in Me" sees a heartbroken Graham sing "I will live or die happily / Just to know you're free". "Fall In Love Again" is a deeply personal song regarding being afraid to fall in love again, yet retains an upbeat focus even with punch-in-the-gut lyrics: "I will make some poor excuses / Every time that I get close to you". "Talking To Myself" enters full power ballad territory and we hear those brilliant, powerful vocals again.
As the acoustic guitar licks, calming vocals and powerful lyricism of Rag'n'Bone Man's new album come crashing down any listeners headphones, there's only one emotion to have - the emotion of 'Life By Misadventure' being welcomed with open arms like an old friend. The Brighton talent started out in the hip-hop scene, where there are hints of those flows in his debut album 'Human', but in this latest body of work it's all soul and blues. 'Somewhere Along The Way' and 'Lightyears' are perfect examples of that transition into those genres as the talented artist is able to really show off how far his vocals can go.
As the acoustic guitar licks, calming vocals and powerful lyricism of Rag'n'Bone Man's new album come crashing down any listeners headphones, there's only one emotion to have - the emotion of 'Life By Misadventure' being welcomed with open arms like an old friend. The Brighton talent started out in the hip-hop scene, where there are hints of those flows in his debut album 'Human', but in this latest body of work it's all soul and blues. 'Somewhere Along The Way' and 'Lightyears' are perfect examples of that transition into those genres as the talented artist is able to really show off how far his vocals can go.
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