DEREK JAMES: Stray

Derek James

Stray

© 2005 Derek James (620673250221)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 20% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Catchy pop/rock hooks with character drenched in eclectic NYC flavor with Beatle-esque production. James' musical canvas is at once a streak of vintage icons, at other times shades of contemporary flavor, but primarily, a whole lotta fresh charisma.

try this

albums you will love

genres you will love

galleries you will love

By Location

Recommended if you like ...

notes

Move over, Mraz. Take a seat, Mr. Mayer. There's a new kid in town and he's poised to take over the pop-rock, singer-songwriter throne. And he's no Jason or John or even Dave. Derek James is his name, and his debut disc, Stray, is full of eleven perfectly poppy songs that are succinct, snappy, and damn sexy.

The disc starts out hot with the song "Free Love," in which James sings about a temptress who'll "Melt you down to a puddle of a man/ just looking for his pride." After repeated listens to this album, however, it's hard to imagine James loosing his cool. For a freshman release, this album is surprisingly confident. James never waivers, but he's also never cocky.

This confidence is evident in the hit "Summer," which is ready for relentless radio rotation. It'll make you want to sing the line "she doesn't know who I am" over and over with your car windows down and your shades on. "Ain't No Thing Is Perfect," another ready-for-radio ditty, about a girl in search of the perfect man, will make you bop your head and shake your booty while repeating that great mantra.

James has a knack for writing love songs that are intelligent and heartfelt, and will surely make the ladies swoon. "Skye" is a sweet coming-of-age love song about a young woman searching for her identity. "It's time to be me said she/ then she shed her skin and out there came original life through every vein," sings James. He continues saying, "She was life/ felt her through me/ like warm showers from the sun/ let it rain."

"Pretty Lady" is a standout love song. It's so soft, slow, and sweet that you can almost see that look of love in his eyes as he whispers to his woman, "Pretty lady I don't want to ever say goodnight/we're burning strong let's keep the flame alive/ pretty lady you feel me/ pretty lady go on and breathe me all night."

Every song on Stray is an absolute gem, each with its own flair, but not so different that it's alarming. There's a ragtime feel to the song "Smoky Light," and "Dust in the Wind" features a great cello intro. There's even the political and poppy "There is the Sun," in which James expresses frustration about anti-American sentiment and the state of current U.S. politics. Regardless of your opinion, he says it's important to be heard. James even adds the French phrase "Ca donnez moi l'espoir," which means "that gives me hope."

And while his catchy pop-rock licks certainly have a major Beatles influence, James is fresh enough to retain his own distinctive sound, possibly due to the help of his Williamsburg production team Assaf Spector and Eytan Oren.

The only thing wrong with Stray is that after 37 minutes, it comes to an end.

-Arien Rozelle, FEELINGANXIOUS.COM

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Great!
    author: kate

    i was a big mraz fan and this guy just has the same vibe with a little kick to it. it will be interesting to see where he goes with this! Great CD!

  • totally rocks!! from beginning to end--i fear overplay, but can't get enough!!
    author: julie sergel

    solid from start to finish. love, love, love...did i say LOVE? yes. i love it!!! the world would be a far better place if each citizen on the planet had this CD!

  • Great band, Great Musicians
    author: O.D. McConnell

    I found Derek James on myspace and was immediately impressed. Their sound is unique and very catchy. Kudos to the band mates of Derek James. Thanks alot for the good tunes.

  • Love him!
    author: Jenny

    I love this CD! Derek James is AMAZING!! I will probably have to buy another soon cause I will surely wear it out! ; )

  • This is my new favorite!
    author: Lynda

    Stray is an upbeat collection of songs that will leave you wanting more.

  • I know I own a cd of a future musical GREAT!
    author: Jenni

    Stray is a very good CD with music for everyone. I think this is a wonderful sound with soulful lyrics. How can anyone so young know so much? BUY THIS CD

  • What an awesome creative and great listening experience! Derek rocks!
    author: Lisa

    I love this CD-each song is really awesome-I don't skip any of them when listening to it. Derek is poetic and poignant and his songs have catchy tunes. I can't wait for his next one.

  • Awesome happy music
    author: Tina

    I wish this album were longer, 36 minutes is not enough! Smokey Light deserves to be blasted across the radio waves, the tune is infectious and makes me dance every time I hear it. Any album with a kazoo cameo deserves to be great.

  • Awesome ~ I bought 2 it was so Great!!!
    author: ml

    There is one word for Stray ~ Awesome!! It is a reflection of Derek James Unique OUTSTANDING Talent!!!!!!

  • Whatever genre this falls under, that's my favorite genre.
    author: Brad

    This is what I consider good music. Free love One more day Smokey Light Ain't No Thing Is Perfect What's that sound Those five songs are pure genius. This is a great CD for the car, and those 5 songs alone will just about never get old. Keep the albums coming Derek, you've got a gift that few musicians today have.

  • Love Derek
    author: gwen

    Stubbled upon Derek James at LIC Bar (NYC) and have been a huge fan ever since. CD is great - 'what's that sound' (not on his website) is my new favorite!

  • author: Jamie R.

    It's a new upbeat style. He has soothing voice and the music is fabulous. I do mean fabulous...couple of songs have a 1920's feel and it works! It's a must buy.

  • im writing from gb
    author: debbie

    i love the songs listening from here in great britain on the internet but cannot buy the album as the order form is in dollars and not in sterling, and i dont have a zip code!

  • La musica dulce
    author: Megan

    This cd rocked and popped. It came wrapped with piece of candy, and nothing goes better like tunes and sugar. Que fabuloso!

  • haven't taken it out if cd player!
    author: Erin

    The CD is unbelievable. They were actually passing out the demos at a kc and the sunshine concert and i was lucky enough to get one. I have not stopped listening to it for weeks now, and I STRONGLY recommend it to everyone! He is GREAT!

  • I'm really impressed with the versatility shown on this album, and it's making m
    author: YouAintNoPicasso.com

    Well, if you dig early Dave Matthews and just about any Jack Johnson, then I think I might have a special treat for you - a young man named Derek James. With Derek James's debut album, we have a musician at an interesting point in his career. He's got the fire and intensity that most musicians do as they step into the wonderful world of recording. But thankfully, there's also some great talent present. Some of his songs are almost impossible to classify because of their vast amount of influences. I suppose out of all the songs on this album, I'm the most smitten with One More Day

  • The debut album STRAY from New York's newest musical firecracker, Derek James, i
    author: RELEVANT MAGAZINE

    Throughout the album, James displays a masterful range of artistic versatility with the quality tunes popping out one after the other. James excels at proving he can "bring the party" with tunes like the modern day Elvis swagga' of What's That Sound, or the ragtime "HoneyPie" (McCartney) sibling jive, Smoky Light. Additionally, he is capable of bringing out the lighters and melting female hearts everywhere with the bittersweet beauty of the title track, the glorious "Coldplay/Train"-wreck of "Summer", and the cello-laced misery of "Dust in the Wind". As if that isn't enough, the guy even brings a sense of optimistic balance to the whole political angst of the last year or so with the sunny whippersnapper, "There is the Sun".

  • Eleven perfectly poppy songs that are succinct, snappy, and damn sexy.
    author: Arien Rozelle

    Move over, Mraz. Take a seat, Mr. Mayer. There’s a new kid in town and he’s poised to take over the pop-rock, singer-songwriter throne. And he’s no Jason or John or even Dave. Derek James is his name, and his debut disc, Stray, is full of eleven perfectly poppy songs that are succinct, snappy, and damn sexy. The only thing wrong with Stray is that after 37 minutes, it comes to an end.

  • Amazing from start to finish!
    author: Valerie

    These guys are going places. You can play this cd over and over again and not get sick of it. Everyone I recommend DJ's music to ends up loving it, telling their friends, and going to shows. Incredible. Buy this CD!!!!

  • Once you go STRAY... You'll Never Go Back
    author: A Boy and His Agenda

    I stumbled into this guy's gig randomly on NYC Craigslist and fell in love with this CD after about 45 seconds of Stray... Cool lyrics, killer arrangements, confident vocals, all consistent throughout the album. Not a single filler song on here. If Coldplay, Maroon 5 and Jamie Cullum collaborated, this is what you'd get. If I were a record mogul I would sign Derek on; in an instant. If I were Derek, I would build fanbase as DMB one college gig at a time. Either way, with a debut record of this appeal and professionalism, he is destined to rule the charts very soon.

  • Awesome!
    author: tonya rhoades

    Great cd! I was pleasantly surprised and now it's on my list of favs.

  • Love it!
    author: Christy

    Love this CD. So great to listen to in the morning or winding down at the end of the day. It makes me happy. Thanks Mr. James!

  • Great album!!!!
    author: Laurita

    I must say that this is one of the best debut albums I've heard in a long time. Derek James is awesome! This cd is absolutely amazing. Makes me smile! This album, is just for everyone, and if you haven't taken a listen, he's well worth it. "Stray" is a really great album. Everyone will like it, or at least appreciate it.

email

Please log in to email this artist.