Top tracks
Other Modern Rock albums
Other British Pop albums
Put your hands on the remote! browse music »
Private Player by James Angell
view larger image
fave it Modern Rock | British Pop
8 tracks | 43 minutes
Released Sep 2004
on Psycheclectic Records
Click 
for a 30-second preview. All tracks are 192kbps high fidelity sound quality. Protected WMA $0.77 or unprotected MP3 $0.88.
listen album 30sec. shuffle buy CD review album promote album
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:11 Ooh Love lyrics BUY MP3 04:11 Ooh Love lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:11 Ooh Love
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:58 Who's Wakin' Me Up? lyrics BUY MP3 05:58 Who's Wakin' Me Up? lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:58 Who's Wakin' Me Up?
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:35 Ed Blue Bottle lyrics BUY MP3 03:35 Ed Blue Bottle lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:35 Ed Blue Bottle
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:58 Call Off The War lyrics BUY MP3 05:58 Call Off The War lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:58 Call Off The War
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:21 Picture Perfect lyrics BUY MP3 05:21 Picture Perfect lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:21 Picture Perfect
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 06:30 Treat Song lyrics BUY MP3 06:30 Treat Song lyrics "GIFT MP3" 06:30 Treat Song
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 07:22 Dear Dying Friend lyrics BUY MP3 07:22 Dear Dying Friend lyrics "GIFT MP3" 07:22 Dear Dying Friend
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:01 Sweet Bell lyrics BUY MP3 05:01 Sweet Bell lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:01 Sweet Bell
"The underground classic of 2002" as Angell's new release was aptly named by this All Music Guide Pick at 4 1/2 Stars, "A brilliant exercise in modern day psychedelia. Angell's music is unique in that he wields influences as far-flung as jazz, soul, pop..
Editorial review
One of the most interesting and ultimately valuable new records to come out of 2002, James Angell's Private Player is akin to Love's Forever Changes in terms of overall elegance and strangeness. It becomes, in the end, a brilliant exercise in modern-day psychedelia. Angell's music is unique in that he welds influences as far-flung as jazz, soul, pop, and psychedelic music -- all often at the same time. The result is an intoxicating, narcotic voyage, yet has all of the luster of a classical piece. It's not easy listening nor is it probably intended to be. Angell's lyrics are both free-form and literate, and combined with the multi-layered arrangements, create a cinematic, almost Bosch-esque atmosphere where the lines of sanity, reality, and fantasy are often blurred. For an example of this, the listener is directed to the third track, "Ed Blue Bottle," which puts all of these elements together. Unsettling -- yes indeed. Beautiful listening absolutely. Aside from the beautiful "Treat Song" (featuring guest trumpet player Eric Matthews), the album's highlight may be epic closer "Sweet Bell." With it's eerie child's voice providing an introduction to Angell's vocal before surrendering to a dissonant soundscape that can only be compared to Tim Buckley's Lorca album, this is one of the album's greatest moments. Private Player is an experience that needs to be played and re-played several times preferably in a row, before the listener can fully realize how much music is really happening. In this way, it challenges the listener to become <I>involved</I>. This is not always a popular thing to do in these days of doubt and limited attention span, but is indeed necessary. The underground classic of 2001. ~ Matthew Greenwald, All Music Guide
Bio / Background
Paul McCartney and Dennis D'Amico have selected the first track "Ooh Love" for the Garland Appeal's upcoming compilation CD. Angell will perform his songs live with a full orchestra backing him with the Garland Appeal. "The underground classic of 2002" as Angell's new release was aptly named by this All Music Guide Pick, was also well reviewed by The New Yorker "...Angell returns with an album of ambitious orchestral psychedelia, "Private Player," that's earned justifiable comparisons to the hallmark of the genre, Love's "Forever Changes." Alternative Press shouted, "With its beautiful tunes and emotive vocals 'Private Player' introduces a major new talent." Magnet Magazine also gave praise. John Taylor (Duran Duran) has now joined the band performing with Angell. Interestingly, David Bowie has also personally voiced his intent to make a bid and potentially sign Angell to his independent label, ISO.
↓ more ↓