Drummer, student, part time drunk, Simpson's addict
Drummer, student, part time drunk, Simpson's addict
Member since:01.09.2000
Reviews:132
Members who trust:5
James have been going since 1985, but only really started to achieve proper chart success around the time of the whole ‘MADchester’ scene around 1990, and subsequently tended to get lumped in with The Stones Roses et all, despite not sharing either their home town or indeed their sound.
James are also seen as typical white boy, middle class art student types, right from their name to dodgy sweaters and floppy fringes. This has tended to give them a very 'uncool' image – they’ve never been hip like Blur or Oasis, but that hasn’t stopped them from selling millions of records and having a career that’s spanned over 16 years and doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon.
Anyway, as for the music, if you’re a fan of James you’ll love this album (and indeed own all but a couple of its tracks) and it’s a definitive starting point for anyone who is just a dabbler. Featuring all their ‘big hits’ and indeed their minor ones, it features tracks from all their albums, with the exception of the experimental double album Wah Wah that featured everything from structure less jams to ambient weirdness. That stuff is merely for hardcore fans, and is wisely left off of here.
As for the tunes themselves, everyone will know ‘Sit Down’ (especially as they release it as a single every couple of years without fail!) but many of the other tracks will also be familiar to the casual listener from the radio, you’ll know the songs you just won’t know the titles.
Excellent new track ‘Destiny Calling’ was a Top 20 hit and goes a long way to demonstrating that James are far from a spent force. The sheer time scale of the tracks show the bands musical progression, although the tracks aren’t in chronological order.
As for the music, most will already know of the great musicianship, sometimes-poetic lyrics and great production that have been evident on all of James records. All the old hits sound as relevant and vital today as they did when they first come out, such ‘ Come Home’, Born of Frustration’ and more recent hits like ‘She’s A Star’.
The artwork isn’t too amazing, but the packaging does include fairly extensive sleeve notes, which are a worthy read. Recommended for both fans and dabblers alike.
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Riding on the powerful wave of Manchester's early 1990's musical renaissance, James' ... more
intellectual and improvised approach complemented a dance heavy scene and catapulted the seven-piece in to the limelight. "Come Home" and "Sit Down"--James' most lucra...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Come home (Flood mix) Sit down She's a star Laid Waltzing along (single version) Say ... more
something Born of frustration Tomorrow Destiny calling Out to get you Runaground Lose control Sometimes How was it for you Seven Sound Ring the bells Hymn from the vil...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: very good songs, pretty cover Disadvantages: just a couple of so so tracks
alysonwonderland 05.04.2004 (05.04.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Best Of James, The - James
Advantages: very good songs, pretty cover Disadvantages: just a couple of so so tracks
alysonwonderland 05.04.2004 (05.04.2004)
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Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Best Of James, The - James
Jul 1st, 2001
very helpful by (95%):
somewhat helpful by (5%):
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