Bitter Sweet Love

Bitter Sweet Love is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter James Arthur, released on 26 January 2024 through Columbia Records.^[1] The album, primarily co-written and produced by Steven Solomon, retains Arthur's signature sound, and was preceded by the release of six singles, including the title track, and the lead single "A Year Ago".^[2]

The album peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Arthur's second number one album, following Back from the Edge (2016). On June 28, 2024, to accompany Arthur's world tour in promotion of the album, a deluxe edition was released, adding eight new tracks, including covers of Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years" and Shania Twain's "You're Still the One". The deluxe release was preceded by the release of a duet version of "From the Jump" featuring vocals from Kelly Clarkson.

Critical reception

Irish Times writer Lauren Murphy rated the album two and a half stars out of five stars. She noted that "Arthur's soulful husky voice continues to be the main quality that sets him apart from the army of Ed Sheerans in operation, but there is only so far it will take him on his fifth album [...] Hollow sloganeering and hackneyed balladry aside, Arthur is more than capable of churning out a decent, lively pop song. There are just not enough of them here to make a lasting impression."^[3] Renowned for Sound described Bitter Sweet Love as "a mixture of some decent, upbeat tracks, a couple of tolerable country-light tracks, and a plethora of entirely adequate, yet instantly forgettable, piano-heavy ballads. The up-tempo tracks demonstrate that Arthur can write good pop songs – without these, this album would have been one long, unendurable ballad."^[4]

Personnel

Musicians

• James Arthur – vocals (all tracks), felt piano (tracks 2, 5), guitars (4, 8)
• Steven Solomon – guitars, keyboards (tracks 1–11, 13); bass (1, 4–7, 10, 11, 13), programming (1–4, 6–11, 13), Juno bass synthesizer (2, 3, 8, 9), piano (7), felt piano (13)
• Daniel Bingham – drums (tracks 1–11, 13), keyboards (1, 3, 5–11, 13), Juno synthesizer (1–3, 5, 6–9, 11, 13), felt piano (7, 13), upright piano (10), piano (12)
• Pete Whitfield – strings (tracks 2, 3, 5, 12, 13)
• Sarah Brandwood-Spencer – strings (tracks 2, 3, 5, 12, 13)
• Simon Turner – strings (tracks 2, 3, 5, 12, 13)
• Rick Parkhouse – bass, keyboards, programming (tracks 4, 12); guitars (4)
• George Tizzard – bass, keyboards, programming (tracks 4, 12); guitars (4)
• Sarah Dorgan – voicemail vocal (track 6)
• John Dempsy – bass guitar (track 9)

Technical

• Steve Solomon – production (tracks 1–11, 13)
• Red Triangle – production (tracks 4, 12)
• Idania Valencia – mastering (tracks 1–7, 9–13)
• Randy Merrill – mastering (track 8)
• Charlie Holmes – mixing (tracks 1–3, 6, 7, 9–13)
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (tracks 4, 5)
• Manny Marroquin – mixing (track 8)
• Chris Galland – mix engineering (track 8)
• Pete Whitfield – string arrangement (tracks 2, 3, 5, 12, 13)
• Daniel Bingham – string arrangement (track 5)
• Matthew Barnes – mixing assistance (tracks 1–3, 6, 7, 9–13)
• Matt Wolach – mixing assistance (tracks 4, 5)
• Ramiro Fernandez-Seoane – mix engineering assistance (track 8)
• John Dempsy – engineering assistance
• Sarah Dorgan – engineering assistance
• Ryan Short – editing assistance

Visuals

• Drinkwater Studio – creative direction, design
• Edward Cooke – photography

Charts

References

1. ^ "James Arthur announces new album Bitter Sweet Love". Hot Press. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
2. ^ "James Arthur today makes a most welcome return with his stunning new song 'A Year Ago'". Total Ntertainment. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
3. ^ Murphy, Lauren (January 25, 2024). "James Arthur: Bitter Sweet Love – Former X Factor winner should stick to the jaunty pop". The Irish Times. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
4. ^ "Album Review: James Arthur – Bitter Sweet Love". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
5. ^ "Top Physical Albums (Week 5, 2024)". SNEP. Retrieved March 24, 2024.