Taller (album) explained

Taller
Type:Studio
Artist:Jamie Cullum
Cover:Jamie Cullum - Taller.png
Label:Island
Producer:
  • Jamie Cullum
  • Troy Miller
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Taller is the eighth studio album by British jazz musician Jamie Cullum, released through Island Records on 7 June 2019.

Background

Cullum divulged that the title of the album was a reference to attention toward his height in comparison to that of his wife, Sophie Dahl, quipping that he "managed to completely break one of the laws of the universe by marrying a taller woman and it was quite interesting how much that was talked about".[1]

Release and promotion

During the 2018 Montreux Jazz Festival, Cullum premiered the tracks "Taller" and "Mankind" from the album.[2] The album's title track was made available along with pre-orders of the album in May 2019.[3] Ahead of its release, two additional songs were made available on music streaming services: "Drink" and "The Age of Anxiety" on 8 May and 31 May, respectively.

Cullum announced in May 2019 that he was set to embark on a tour across the United Kingdom to support the album in March 2020.[4] In Dave Simpson's review of Cullum's performance at the York Barbican for The Guardian, he deemed some of Cullum's routines "well-worn" but praised Cullum's versatility as well as his "aplomb".[5]

Critical reception

Awarding the album four stars out of five, Matt Collar of AllMusic regarded Taller as "sophisticated and emotionally unguarded".[6] The album was also chosen as one of the Evening Standards albums of the week on 7 June 2019. Writing for the publication, Andre Paine deemed the album a "bold reinvention".[7] Conversely, Steven Wine of the Associated Press noted that the album was "stylistically scattershot" but that "there’s something for everyone".[8]

Track listing

Track listing and credits adapted from Tidal.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hunt. Julia. Jamie Cullum reveals why his latest album is called Taller. Belfast Telegraph. 22 December 2019. 9 June 2020.
  2. News: Nebehay . Stephanie . Jamie Cullum brings new material to Montreux, takes a jab at Trump . . 14 July 2018. 9 June 2020.
  3. Web site: Sexton . Paul . Jamie Cullum Is Back And 'Taller' On Eighth Studio Album . uDiscoverMusic . . 3 May 2019 . 9 June 2020 .
  4. Web site: Walker. Graham. Jamie Cullum to promote new album Taller with UK tour dates in Yorkshire. Yorkshire Evening Post. 30 May 2019. 9 June 2020.
  5. Web site: Simpson. Dave. Jamie Cullum review – fun genre rampage from self-doubting showman. The Guardian. 12 March 2020. 9 June 2020.
  6. Web site: Taller – Jamie Cullum. AllMusic. 28 February 2020.
  7. Web site: Albums of the week: Avicii, Jamie Cullum and The Divine Comedy. The Evening Standard. 7 June 2019. 28 February 2020. Symth. David. Paine. Andre. Broughton. Simon. Aubrey. Elizabeth. Cornwell. Jane.
  8. Web site: Stylistically scattershot set from piano man Jamie Cullum. The Associated Press. 6 June 2019. Wine. Steven. 28 February 2020.
  9. Web site: Taller / Jamie Cullum . . . 9 June 2020 .