Much like its predecessor, 2017's
The Afterlove,
James Blunt's sixth full-length,
Once Upon a Mind, matches his familiar voice and introspective lyrics with polished pop production. With a team of pop songwriters, the 11 selections on the LP shift between catchy ditties (which sound like late-era
Mumford and Sons,
OneRepublic, or
Maroon 5 mashed with
Avicii leftovers) and plaintive moments of vulnerability that faintly hint at his hit debut,
Back to Bedlam. Upbeat highlights like "The Truth" and "5 Miles" energize the album, while anthemic motivators such as "Champions" and "Halfway" offer empowering singalongs. Cutting to the core, the heartbreaking "Monsters" and "How It Feels to Be Alive" deal with his father, while "I Told You" and "The Greatest" are gems of wisdom written for his children and future generations. Ultimately,
Once Upon a Mind is a pleasant listen that should satisfy longtime fans. ~ Neil Z. Yeung