Candid’s 2010 release Devil May Care cannibalizes seven tracks from Jamie Cullum’s 2002 sophomore set Pointless Nostalgic and since this album is only 10 cuts, that’s a fair portion of the record. The other three tracks are unreleased material from the Pointless Nostalgic sessions: a spare strings-and-voice arrangement by Geoff Gascoyne of Brian Wilson’s “God Only Knows,” a nice version of “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” that fits right in with the rest of the sessions and “Small Day Tomorrow” which features the legendary Bob Dorough on lead vocals. “God Only Knows” is the biggest departure from the voice-piano-bass-drums instrumentation of the album but it fits well into the warm, intimate vibe of the sessions, which offer a friendly well-manicured spin on Harry Connick Jr’s Sinatra throwback. While it’s unclear why there’s a whole new title instead of an expanded reissue of Pointless Nostalgic, this is nevertheless an enjoyable snapshot of Cullum at his jazziest. Stephen Thomas Erlewine.
1. Devil May Care Jamie Cullum 3:23 2. I Can't Get Started Jamie Cullum 5:11 3. God Only Knows (feat. Geoff Gascoyne) Jamie Cullum 2:53 4. Love Won't Let Me Wait (feat. Geoff Gascoyne) Jamie Cullum 4:01 5. Lookin' Good Jamie Cullum 3:09 6. Well You Needn't Jamie Cullum 3:22 7. It Ain't Necessarily So Jamie Cullum 4:32 8. Too Close for Comfort Jamie Cullum 3:25 9. Small Day Tomorrow Bob Dorough 4:17 10. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning Jamie Cullum 6:21