AFTER the huge success of his first album, Back to Bedlam, James Blunt is back with a stonking album.

It is very similar to his first, in that it has just the right mix of upbeat tempos, sandwiched between haunting acoustic numbers.

Some stand out songs on All the Lost Souls include Give Me Some Love which has some hard-hitting lyrics, and1973, which is currently gracing the airwaves of a lot of radio stations.

One of the most poignant tracks on the album is Carry You Home, which is melodic and beautiful. With lyrics such as "As strong as you were, tender you go. I'm watching you breathing for the last time," it wouldn't take a genius to work out that this will be the track selected to accompany many a funeral service, just as Goodbye My Lover was from the first album.

To bring out two such excellent albums within such a relatively short space of time goes to prove that the former soldier is a very talented musician.

He may be Blunt, but his writing skills and vocal ability are sharp.

HC