For 20 years Australia has loved the sound and songs of singer James Reyne. James Reyne himself however has had to learn to love being James Reyne again. Hes done that with Speedboats For Breakfast, and the result (no hype!) is what he believes (and is!) to be the best record hes ever made.Thats a big statement of course. James Reynes first album with Australian Crawl, The Boys Light Up is acknowledged as one of the classic Australian rock albums of all time. With Australian Crawl James went on to write and record the No.1 hit song Reckless, still one of the most requested Australian songs on radio. There would be a riot if James didnt perform Reckless every time he walks on a stage. Then, after the hits with Australian Crawl also including the wonderfully poignant Downhearted there were a string of solo hits Fall Of Rome, Hammerhead, Motors Too Fast, Slave and more and even acting roles. In the process James Reyne had become a rare commodity in Australian entertainment his looks were as famous as his voice.Fame became a problem for James Reyne the singer, the songwriter, the musician. He thought his past was standing in the way of his future. When he released his 1999 album Design For Living there was no sign of James Reynes photo anywhere. He didnt want his famous face getting in the way of the music. In mid-2003 when he started work on what became Speedboats For Breakfast James was toying with the idea of releasing the results under another name, not his own, so his famous name wouldnt get in the way.The music and the songs recorded for Speedboats For Breakfast changed all that. James Reyne is too proud of this album, too pleased with the songs and the sounds contained, not to want to remind us this is the same James Reyne who gave us Reckless and Slave. From start to finish Speedboats For Breakfast is different to any other record James Reyne has ever made. When James and ex Horsehead guitarist Scott Kingman started work on this album there was no record company involved. They decided to back themselves, creatively and financially, to make the record they wanted to make. Whatever came after that was left to fate. They rented a house overlooking the rugged Victorian coastline, on the Mornington Peninsula where Australian Crawl began and James has returned in recent years. And surrounded by the landscape that is as much James Reyne as his music, James Scott and some long time associates recorded Speedboats For Breakfast.What youll hear for yourself is everything everyones always loved about James Reyne .. and more. This is the step into the future hes been longing for. Enjoying James Reyne has always been about more than that unmistakable vocal style. Its also been about the way his voice wraps its way around a melody and draws out incredibly memorable choruses. Its about James Reynes love of words, the sound of the words as well as the images they evoke. All of that is here on Speedboats For Breakfast James Reyne at his very very best. Listen and you know its true.I had nothing to prove, but everything to gain, he says. When the sessions were finished, James was happy. Naturally, he sent copies to his friends. Impressed with what they heard they played the album to their friends. Soon James Reynes record was all the buzz. James didnt have to hustle a record deal. He didnt have to make something happen. The music did the job. As it should.
Show comments and reviews from Amazon users