Music : Bryn Christopher 'My World'

Album Info :

Artist : Bryn Christopher
Album : My World
Release Date : 08 September 2008
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Polydor
ASIN: B001A52TRQ
Genre : R&B and Soul

Description :

'My World' is the debut album by Birmingham born RnB crooner Bryn Christopher. Citing many influences from Otis Reddingto Prince, his style uniquely differs to his peers. The roping in of respected producers Midi Mafia (Jennifer Lopez, Nelly) creates a funky, contemporary feel and recalls the edginess of Amy Winehouse and the laidback cool of Al Green. Includes the singles 'The Quest' and 'Smilin'.

Album Review :

by Dan Gennoe
With Amy Winehouse's '60s soul styling having succeeded where two generations of modern music failed, producing a genuine British R&B star, the rash of similarly retro contenders - step forward Duffy and Adele - was predictable. At first glance, Birmingham singer-songwriter Bryn Christopher looks like the male equivalent, but to dismiss him as just another throwback would be to overlook an exceptional talent. True, his debut album is full of Motown-isms and his vocals nod to Otis Redding, but if the influences are vintage, his vision is undeniably forward thinking.

If not the best track on the album, the best track to hear what sets Christopher apart is his cover of Portishead's ode to the misery of love, "Sour Times". As well as scoring points for going there in the first place, he wins big by turning their dank, dark crawl through an emotional gutter into a dank, dark anthem, a gleeful sing-along revelling in neediness. He bravely takes something remarkable, raises the BPM, adds elation to the chorus and makes it his own. Same song, very different perspective.

The same is true of how Chrisopher's old soul fascination manifests itself. With a voice made for the crackle of old vinyl, anything he sings will be labelled retro. Instead of denying the obvious, his collaborators - SugaRush Beat Company's Jaz Rogers and New York production duo Midi Mafia (50 Cent) - have embraced the old school sounds of motor city, while building something new out of them. Of the two, Midi Mafia take the idea most literally, sampling for the first time tracks from the Stax label's back catalogue. Given new beats, Bryn's barnstorming vocals and a high-calibre pop sheen, the sultry shimmies behind "Stay With Me", "Found A New Love" and "Help Me" find a whole new lease of high-definition life.

Better still, the Jaz Rogers tracks carve out a whole new sound for Christopher. Blurring all lines, "Smilin'", a joyous celebration with a sinister undercurrent, throws surf guitars, soul swagger and epic '80s keyboards into a beautifully bleak whole, like Gnarls Barkley doing synth-pop. Meanwhile, the post-apocalyptic gospel of "The Quest" and the frenetic and twisted "Seconds Ago", send Bryn to a nightmarish alternate reality that's as inspired as it is unexpected.

It would have been easy for Christopher to make a nice album of soul covers and plenty of cash in the process. That he chose to make a fiercely creative album instead is to his credit. That there is absolutely nothing safe or predictable about it is why he pulls it off so spectacularly. Neither slavish nor pastiche, "My World" is vintage soul for the modern age and an undeniable future classic.
Taken From : http://uk.launch.yahoo.com




Track Listings :

1. Help Me
2. Smilin'
3. Sour Times
4. Stay With Me
5. The Quest
6. My World
7. Found A New Love
8. Seconds Ago
9. The Way You Are
10. GoneGoneGone
11. My Kinda Woman/Taken Me Over
12. Taken Me Over

Bryn Christopher - Smilin'



Bryn Christopher - Smilin’ Lyrics

Tell me why I’m feeling this way
‘Cuz nothing’s the same when you’re gone,
Theres something going on with my brain
I’m finding it hard to explain

Why am I addicted to you ?
And when did I first lose control ?
Oh, how can I escape from your hold ?
And how can I change when I’m
numbed through the cold ?

Theres something that stirring me…. inside,
As long as you’ll stay I’ll be alright

You got me smilin’
You got me smilin’
when I think of you
You got me smilin’
‘Cuz I keep dreaming of you
You got me smilin’
I keep on smilin’
when I dream of you
You got me smilin’
‘Cuz i keep thinking of you

Now you’ve gone I’m wanting you back
I need you to make me feel good
The smoke inside my body reacts
Oh no I think that I’m under attack

It’s burning up a hole in my veins
And suddenly everything’s fine
I’m searching for some hope in this space
You see I try but I just can’t explain,
why :

You got me smilin’
You got me smilin’
when I think of you
You got me smilin’
‘Cuz I keep dreaming of you
You got me smilin’
I keep on smilin’
when I dream of you
You got me smilin’
‘Cuz i keep thinking of you

You got me smilin’
I keep on smilin’ yeah
You got me smilin’
‘Cuz I keep dreaming of you
(repeat)