James Blunt finds his soul on sophomore album

L love him or hate him, there's no denying singer-songwriter James Blunt has a winning formula. His new album is chock-full of melancholy, nostalgic tunes.

Blunt smashed into the US charts in 2005 when he became the first British artist to reach the number one spot on the American Billboard Hot 100 since Elton John with Candle in the Wind 1997.

His sophomore album All the Lost Souls contains songs of a similar style as his previous album, but this time some of the tracks are clearly influenced by John, The Beatles and The Bee Gees.

The album opens with probably the best song on the whole album. 1973 is inspired by a nightclub in Ibiza, Spain, where Blunt now lives. It's a disco-tinged ballad with twangy guitar, a 1970s-sounding bass line, strong drums and subtle piano accompaniment.

When asked where the title came from, Blunt says: '1973 - I wasn't even alive then! ... It just must have rhymed with something.'

The second track, One of the Brightest Stars, is a self-exploring song where Blunt reflects on his newfound fame: 'It reflects on elements of stardom and doesn't necessarily sound entirely positive in some aspects of it.

'It's one of those moments, I guess, when you start feeling the pressure a little bit and seeing again how people's perception of you, or maybe your public persona, changes.'