James Bruner’s debut album ‘Can’t Keep Wanting You’ arrives with the kind of restless energy that makes everything feel one size bigger. Across twelve tracks, the Illinois-born, Nashville-based rocker tears through lust, ambition, self-doubt, infatuation and resilience with a sound that is loud, melodic and full of personality.
The title-track captures that tension immediately, turning unhealthy desire into something thrilling and combustible. ‘Hypnotized’ follows with a harder, punkier edge, channelling frustration into pure release, while ‘Don’t Wanna Be Late’ leans into thick 90s grunge textures and a hook that feels built to explode live.
That sense of variety is one of the album’s biggest strengths, as ‘Wish I Could Stay’ brings in more groove and funk, opening the door to his broader influences, while ‘OMG’ pushes towards bright, infectious pop-rock without losing the swagger underneath.
But the quieter moments hit just as hard. ‘Shine’ gives the artist space to stretch vocally, its falsetto and cinematic sweep adding another dimension to the record, while ‘It’s Too Late’ finds him at his most exposed.
There’s also a strong thread of ambition running beneath everything. ‘SMS’ deals with the fear of losing sight of a dream, and ‘Getaway’ captures the crash that comes when touring ends and the adrenaline disappears.
Producer Shane Weisman keeps the album muscular and immediate, allowing his influences of Iggy Pop, Lenny Kravitz to Tom Petty to sit naturally inside a much more contemporary frame.
Bold, emotional and packed with hooks, ‘Can’t Keep Wanting You’ is the sound of James Bruner throwing himself fully into the moment. And for a debut album, it feels remarkably complete.
