Rumer - Boys Don't Cry

Rumer – Boys Don’t Cry

rumerSo, somehow I have managed to avoid anything involving Rumer up until this point. I don’t know whether that was intentional, or whether it’s because I have this strange innate habit of switching channels anytime something dreary that my nan might listen to comes onto Jools Holland.

Boys Don’t Cry‘ is the second album from Rumer coming after the highly successful ‘Seasons of my Soul‘ and is a collection of (it’s here that I shudder) covers of seventies songs. Now, to be honest the whole cover album thing isn’t so bad, done to death yes, but if you do something new with the music and don’t croon along like say Rod Stewart these days then you can get away with it – just. Okay, ‘Boys Don’t Cry‘ is hardly Rod Stewart churning milk from the cash cow, but at the same time it’s so very safe, so very middle ground, and well, just so bloody nice that I honestly can’t stand it.

Music is so bloody brilliant. It is able to empower people, change lives, excite and bring its listener to its knees. With ‘Boys Don’t CryRumer is only doing one thing; lulling me to sleep.

[rating: 2]

www.rumer.co.uk/

  1. On the contrary Craig, I feel like her cover versions are incredibly uplifting and blow us all away. She has taken the time to craft this album into a unique work of art, not something that everyone in this industry can do. I think you need to take the time to appreciate the diversity of what she does , then I think you will change your mind.

  2. Hello Christine,

    Trust me, with the amount I had to listen to this album, I won’t change my mind.

    As someone who reviews music, I get sent a whole host of different genres of music and am open to all music, so to say that I need to ‘take the time to appreciate the diversity of what she does’ is a bit of a joke. Music like Rumer’s has and will continue to be done to death. It’s middle of the road music for middle aged house wives and old age pensioners and quite frankly I’m far too excited about the great music scene we have in the UK to give this album much more of my time!

    That said, a review is a review, and it is just one persons opinion, and in all honesty I am glad that you 1. liked an album and 2. liked it passionately enough to feel you had to defend it.

    Continue loving music!

    Craig

  3. Hi Craig, respect your conviction and fair enough that you won’t change your mind; but I’m wondering how you feel about reading other people’s reviews…just as a counter/reality check to your own? Reflective practice allows for the possibility that we can always learn and continue to grow in what we do. I hope you won’t mind if I suggest this recent piece as a point of balance to your own and also as an example of what I consider to be music criticism at the correct degree of depth and research : http://vivoscene.com/feature/rumer-boys-dont-cr-album-review/ Now, obviously I wouldn’t expect you to post this comment given that it contains a link to a rival site; but please do indulge me a little if I think it might give you the slightest pause for reflection, especially around the what you consider to be “safe” production – after all as a fan I took the time to read your review. Ultimately of course, as a free netizen, you have to do what you think is best; but I felt I had to say something in the common interests of sharing knowledge and truth.

  4. She lulls you to sleep? Perhaps you have narcolepsy. 😉 I appreciate her music in the same way that I do James Taylor’s – Yes, it tends to be soothing, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of layers there to be discovered.

  5. Hi David – another GIITTV writer here, please don’t think we are ganging up on you. First of all, I’m glad to see a debate going on, it’s great that we’ve got that, and have of course we posted your link; never afraid of comparison.
    I wouldn’t deny that many do indeed find Rumer’s covers record just the thing to float their boat. I’m in two minds about covers – for instance I consider Bowie’s 1973 cover of Sorrow one of his finest works, or Cowboy Junkies cover of Powderfinger. In fact, one of my favourite ever songs is Saint Etienne covering another by Neil Young, ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart.
    Craig has been very straightforward in his view, and I respect his right to do that. I think I can see where he is coming from though.
    If I may, I’ll refer to one of the songs that Rumer covers, Home Thoughts From Abroad. I don’t know if you have ever listened to the original? I found it as the b-side to Clifford T. Ward’s 1973 single ‘Gaye’ and it had me from the off. This sparse voice, as though sung down (what was in those days) a long-distance phone line, the desolation of choices willingly made but resulting in separation so bitter it is sweet. The instrumentation, early on just a piano, the violin joining in like a whiff of bougainvillaea, it builds and then the brushed drumming adds to the quiet crescendo.

    I listened to Rumer’s version and it’s …..nice enough but anodyne and safe? I gladly read the vivoscene review too – thanks. There’s lots of it, and I can see why a Rumer fan would agree with it, but it’s like her music – just slightly gushy, and with little evidence of bite. It’s always good to get strong opinions out of music though, that’s what I love, and let’s face it, if it wasn’t for that, we might as well as listen to Snow Patrol.

  6. Hi David, I disagree yet again with your last comment about Rumer’s music being appreciated by middle aged housewives.
    I am not middle aged and I like music from all genres. I like Plan B, Jimi Hendrix and many other artists.
    A lot of my friends, from all walks of life have fallen on love with Rumer.
    My guess is, you just don’t get her !

  7. David didn’t say that Christine, that was me. Yes, I’m sure I don’t get her at all, I’d much rather listen to Norah Jones do a cover or two, or better still, someone who is going to do something ‘out there’.

    I’m glad this has caused a debate.

    Craig

  8. Ok so you have your opinion, for me Rumer has opened my ears to new musical talents and their songs while putting her own take in them. I take great pleasure in listening to as many types of music as I can and must admit that Rumer fills a hole that was missing in my life. Once in a generation there is an artist who can touch your soul just by sharing their innermost feeling through song.
    Music is many things to all people and to br so negative shows a lack of respect and appreciation of what great artists are trying to do.
    If you have to share you negativity could you not also try and find some constructive criticism or words of encouragement, sometimes reviews by so called professionals can be very hurtful and Do more harm than good 🙁

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God is in the TV is an online music and culture fanzine founded in Cardiff by the editor Bill Cummings in 2003. GIITTV Bill has developed the site with the aid of a team of sub-editors and writers from across Britain, covering a wide range of music from unsigned and independent artists to major releases.