CD Review: "Call Me Irresponsible" by Michael Bublé

I have to be honest and admit that I didn’t really like Michael Bublé’s “Call Me Irresponsible” the first time I listened to it. I had bought it mainly for the 1st single released from it that I really liked and to complete my collection of his CD releases. After listening to the last track for the first time, I decided to give it another spin to try to figure out what prompted my initial reaction. After the heights reached by his previous effort “It’s Time”, I was very much surprised by my first impression on the new CD. It was while I listened to it on the second time around when suddenly something clicked and the magic that is Bublé’s dulcet tones came back to be renewed another day, for me at least, with his new CD release.

“The Best Is Yet To Come” starts off in acapella mode before going into the more familiar big band sound that we have been predisposed to expect from the artist. While nothing new is presented here, the track echoes back to his previous albums allowing the listener a familiar point to begin the journey for better things as promised. The more up tempo “It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)” that followed was definitely as good as advertised proudly in the opening number. The heavily Latin influenced sounds on this track was a perfect example of the thing that sets this album noticeably apart from his previous efforts which may explained my initial reaction.

The sultry anthem to illicit affairs “Me and Mrs. Jones” was a by the numbers rendition of the original but with a helpful dollop of the patented Michael Bublé charm and cheekiness. It was both intimate and haunting to listen to which continued into “I’m Your Man” where Bublé returned to form as the formidable crooner that he is well known for. Sounding very confident in the delivery, the song showcased his vocal stylings beautifully.

“Comin’ Home Baby” featuring Boys II Men in a duet put Michael on slightly new territory relative to what we have heard form him before. The up tempo R&B tune was quite a refreshing entry at this point of the CD and the collaboration between Bublé and Boys II Men gelled together very well despite the differences in the genres that they normally operate in. After the renewed shot of energy, the CD turns introspective with “Lost”, one of the two original songs penned by Bublé, Jann Arden and Alan Chang. It’s comforting and lyrical song to appreciate with thoughts of love ones in the listener’s mind.

“Call Me Irresponsible” was quite fun and catchy to listen to. Bublé infused just the right amount of charisma and swagger when he delivered the words that I can’t help being charmed by. In my mind, this song would definitely be a great make up song if ever I would need one (for whatever reasons of course). Ivan Lins collaborated with the artist on a Italian basso nova reimagining of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight”. Taking the familiar and turning it on it’s head is a trademark of Bublé and for this track, the effort produced an interesting offering to the listener.

“Everything” was the main reason I bought the album and rightly so as it was hands down the most catchy song that we have heard from this artist ever. The second of two original songs penned by Bublé, Alan Chang and Amy Foster-Gillies, the lyrically poetic song with it’s pop jazz sensibility rocketed this track up the charts and straight into his fans play lists. It would be interesting how would Bublé top this delectable song in his future albums. The swing-influenced “I’ve Got The World On A String” had the unenviable position of having to follow such a memorable song on the album. While the song itself was quite serviceable, it was slight overshadowed by the more remarkable song we heard before it.

Bublé’s take on the familiar “Always On My Mind” was both sweeter and more haunting to listen to relative to the versions sung by Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. A definitely winning track could easily stand along side the originals as a fresh interpretation of the song. The decision to add a gospel choir to back up Bublé in the next track, “That’s Life”, was a stroke of genius as it made the song much bigger sounding one than the original as sung by Sinatra. Helped by his own addition of winning charm and confident swagger to the words made the song easily stood out among the list of tracks in terms of memorable beats on the CD.

Both “Dream” and the closing bonus track “L-O-V-E” sounded a bit rote as both did not diverge much from the original. “Dream” showcased again Bublé’s skills as a memorable crooner for this generation and made a fitting bookend to the album’s first track. “L-O-V-E” was fun to listen to but did not really break any new ground in terms of presentation.

The spread of genres and interpretations attempted by Michael Bublé in this his third studio effort was quite impressive to listened to. Despite my first reaction to the album, I found myself liking it more and more with each new listening. While some could say that it was disappointingly similar to his previous album, it was the type of sound that Bublé does best and his fans love him for. With a winning singles like “Lost”, “Always On My Mind” and especially the gem of the CD, “Everything”, Michael Bublé’s “Call Me Irresponsible” CD is nigh irresistible to his fans and listener who enjoys the genre.