He’s opened for the likes of the Strokes and Ben Folds and wrote a song for the Spiderman soundtrack called ‘Somebody Else’? So why haven’t we heard of Bleu? Because for all his blissed out power chords, his cheeky, boyish charm and his grizzled mutton-chops, he’s just too darn pop.
Bleu brainchild James McAuley III did however manage to pull reclusive Jellyfish frontman Andy Sturmer out of the house to co-write and sing backup on “Could Be Worse“ but really he needn’t have bothered. With it’s cod-Thin Lizzy rebellious streak and easy-going wretchedness, ‘Could Be Worse’ is pretty much everything you hate about light-rock – clanking pianos, crooning guitar solos, faux optimism and a dodgy central premise: that everybody is guilty of something sometime. Well obviously. Bleu himself is guilty of rolling out perfectly anachronistic rock. And not just sometimes.
Griping aside though, and looking at it from the perspective of someone not too concerned with maintaining any degree of credibility, tracks like ‘Well Do It All Again’, ‘Somebody Else’ and ‘Watchin’ You Sleep’ do manage to ruffle a few pleasing feathers. They’re simple, affectionate and if you ignore their striking Crowded House and McCartney-isms, you could find yourself adding these little jewels to your media library on an occasional basis.
The success of gentle Billy Lightweights, Travis is that they resisted pursuing the dangerous excesses of rock. They didn’t try to be The Clash – they wrote nice tunes. And for this, they are at least, authentic and consistent.
The pressed new denim, and the unspoilt trainers on the album cover say it all.
A headache for those trying to market the poor fellow – if not for those of us trying to listen it.