James O'Connor
Album: Behind The Scenes
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 13
Website: http://www.jamesoconnormusic.com

"Behind The Scene" is, I think, James O'Connor's first album since "After Hours" back in 2009 though there has been a single or two in the interim and like a lot of album's these days was entirely self funded, which was a bit of a surprise as I'd have thought there would have been a label or two out there perpared to take a punt on his songwriting talents.

"Behind The Scenes" is an album that appears to be built on life experiences happily mixed with more than a modicum of commonsense and finished off with a healthy dash of home spun philosophy.

One of the things I like about O'Connor's writing style, apart from that feeling of honesty, that I think gets a serious helping hand from his soft Irish brouge, is that he doesn't waste time revinventing wheels. "Can't Take The Money" points out that you can't it with you, not bothering to wrap it up in euphamism, rather just happy to use tried and trusted sentances that we all use. This gives him more time to find those phrases when he really needs them and can get to the crux of what really matters.

Whilst the album has a folk-pop core, James O'Connor is likewise happy to mix it up a bit and on songs like, "Careless With Words" he's happy to drop in some reggae stylings, that something extra to give the song an appropriate lift.

"Behind The Scenes" is quite a political, with a small p, album. There are elements of not only what makes him tick, but also what it was that made him tick that way. "Behind The Scenes" does give you a view of the backstage of James O'Connor, but he makes you feel that you've been invited in and whilst it is an open and honest album, you feel there might be a deeper recess that he may start exploring on his next cut. A highly enjoyable look and listen at and to a songwriter that exploits his craft well

Neil King