Adam James

Album Review
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“Nighthawks At The Diner”-Tom Waits

“I wanna pull on your coat about somethin’!” That’s one of the first lines said on the album. And what it sets up is something unlike anything you’ve ever heard more than likely. Tom Waits is a songwriter extroardinaire, but “Nighthawks At The Diner” also shows him to be a master MC (not in the hip hop sense), an adept comedian, and one of the great storytellers of the 20th century.
The mood is everything on this record. Waits set up a fictional nighclub known as the “Silver Cloud Lounge” to record this album. And he doesn’t just play the songs, he chats with the audience, endears himself to them, tells them stories, makes them laugh…in short he ENTERTAINS! Each song has in intro to it in which Waits tells these little vignettes and jokes, and some of the best material on this album is in these parts.
But make no mistake, Waits is a songwriter first and foremost. “Eggs and Sausage in a Cadillac” tells about some of the various eating establishments he’s eaten in and some of the people you see in a late night diner, while “Better Off Without A Wife” is about the having the freedom than married men dream of but the underlying sadness that comes with that.
This is a perfect album for a late night at home, or a late night drive, or an after hours party. It’s a great album to put on when you’re alone and don’t want to be, when you want to be with other people who may be lonely, but you don’t want to go to a bar and deal with them. Sounds escapist, but remember, it’s all about the vibe. There are few records that do vibe and atmosphere this well. Download “Eggs and Sausage” or “Nobody” to get a feel for it!

I’m coming to you live from a coffeeshop next to the PIedmont River. If you don’t know what the Piedmont river is, it’s Piedmont Avenue when it rains. Rain splashing the window next to me, it’s perfect day to be inside with a warm cup of tea or coffee.

I just wanted to to say hey and give you a bit of an update. I’ve been practicing hard trying to get my live set “tight as a tick’s ass” as a friend of mine says. It’ll be like what I’ve been doing but times 10! I can’t wait to get out and play and show you guys what I’ve been doing.

And the record. Pretty close to being done! We just have to master it and get it all printed up and it’ll be ready to be sold! I’m excited because I’m tired of telling people “I’m working on a record,” I want to be able to say, “I FINISHED a record!” I’ve got some cool ideas for a potential CD release party that I’ll let you know about if/when they happen.
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NEXT SHOW!!
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WHAT: Adam James @ CJ’s Landing
WHEN: February 10th, 2007 9pm
WHERE: CJ’s Landing, Buckhead DR., Atlanta, GA
INFO: $5 21+ only

Thanks to Brad Broadrick for helping me finalize this one!

DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY
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“Soul Sista”-Bilal

Bilal is a classically trained soul singer from Philly, but make no mistake, his training hasn’t affected his output any (I still don’t understand why people think that knowing classical music affects creativity). This track is about a girl that braodened his mind, and is marked by a really great bassline courtesy of Raphael Saadiq! It’s a great tune that shows off Bilal’s pipes, melodic ability, and his poetic lyrics. I saw him at Atlantis and even though he only sang for about 45 seconds, you can tell that regardless of the industry, Bilal is an artist making real music, with little concern for commercial viability. It’s rare when an artist is able to take some of those kinds of risks on an album. Check this tune out!

Hey kids!

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written, it’s been busy! The Atlantis Music Conference was this past week and it was a great time even though I wasn’t playing. But rest assured, next year will be the year of Adam James! The record is coming along well, I’m just waiting for mixes on the most recently recorded material, and I’m even thinking about expanding it one more track possibly. It’s just a thought, but who knows, it may happen!
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NEXT SHOW!!!
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WHAT: Adam James @ CJ’s Landing
WHEN: February 10th, 2007 9pm
WHERE: CJ’s Landing, Buckhead DR., Atlanta, GA
INFO: $5 21+ only

Thanks to Brad Broadrick for helping me finalize this one!