Jim Muir Slideshow - ...And With The Fading Of The Light Album Review

Jim Muir Slideshow
...And With The Fading Of The Light
Tomorrow's World Industry/ Number 1
Album Review

Time spent as a junior doctor (with band mate Paul Galpin) led to Jim Muir writing songs, and this debut album follows 3 EPs which have sold well around Sheffield. Hopefully Muir is a good A&E doctor now, as it's hard to take his songs seriously - studenty lyrics and what sound like rip-offs of Travis melodies produce a rather odd mix. Having achieved some attention with single This Is London two years ago, it is featured again here, and is the best thing on the album - slightly Pulp-y and inoffensive.

It is hard to make it past the lyrics, however, with their earnestness and overbearing sentimentality recalling Ricky Gervais in The Office, and seemingly aimed at making you understand, you know, just how tough it is to be a doctor with a heart. The instrumentation is variable - oddly tinkly electronica and some strummed guitar. It is clear that Muir is aiming at a Cocker/ Morrissey depth and sideways glance, but on this evidence, there's nothing to suggest a career in the making.

2.5/5

Mike Rea