In Britain there was a recent poll to find what people found to be the most annoying things. The top five 'most annoying' are:
1. Cold callers 2. Caravans 3. Queue jumpers 4. James Blunt 5. Traffic wardens.
Public opinion has really turned against him in the UK. I think he is ok but I could only listen to one or two songs as his voice is so 'samey'. I couldn't imagine listening to a whole album-full. One of the funniest descriptions I've heard about him is: 'that whiny little bed-wetter James Blunt'. And I'm afraid that 'James' has already entered into British rhyming slang to mean a very rude word. Even though you say James the rude word actually rhymes with blunt.
I don't know why people have gone so anti-James Blunt though. His singles did sell very well and were very popular at first. He certainly has developed his own singing style. He's ok.