About me:Hi there - I've not been around much lately (this internet poker thing is really addictive and thank...
Member since:28.02.2008
Reviews:59
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Review rated by 24 Ciao members on average: very helpful
James are probably one of the most under-rated bands of the past 25 years. They formed in Whalley Range, Manchester in 1981. Band members came and went in a flurry of activity until the band came across Tim Booth dancing like a complete loon at a disco they had sneaked into. They invited him to join the band as their dancer (a la Bez in the Happy Mondays) but later he became their vocalist.
This 'Best of' collection was released in 1998 and contains eighteen tracks of pure brilliance.
Track Listing
1 - Come Home (Flood Mix) 2 - Sit Down 3 - She's a Star 4 - Laid 5 - Waltzing Along (single version) 6 - Say Something 7 - Born of Frustration 8 - Tomorrow 9 - Destiny Calling 10 - Out to get You 11 - Runaground 12 - Lose Control 13 - Sometimes 14 - How was it for You? 15 - Seven 16 - Sound 17 - Ring the Bells 18 - Hymn from a Village
Perhaps the greatest known track is the standard 'Sit Down' calling all the wronged, lonely and unloved to join the singer in their despair and was released in '89 to a very luke warm British public and it only reached number 77 in the charts. Following the songs success in the clubs a couple of years later where clubbers would actually 'sit down' whenever the song was playe, it was rereleased and it soared to number 2 in the Top 40 (Chesney Hawkes kept it from the top spot). It was also released again in a remixed form by Apollo 440 in '98 and this time only made number 7.
Each song is a fantastic piece of music with some really catchy tunes and profound lyrics that often require you to actually study the words. Not in the same vain that Micheal Stipe asks you to study his lyrics (christ knows what that man's on) but in a way that can stop you and force you to listen.
In 'Sometimes' (the BEST track James have ever recorded) Tim Booth sings 'sometimes when I look in your eyes I swear I can see your soul'. The song tells the tale of a storm and a dying child caught in its thrall.
'Ring the Bells' is a song that just grows and grows, building itself up into a wonderful piece of frantic brilliance - even better when heard live with Tims lyrics once again soaring with some truly inspired words - 'When you let me fall, grew my own wings now I'm as tall as the sky - When you let me drown, grew gills and fins now I'm as deep as the see - When you let me die, my spirit's free, there's nothing challenging me'
In 'Waltzing Along', which is a different version than the slower number released on their 'Whiplash' album the immensely catchy tune carries even more beautiful lyrics - 'May your eyes be opened by the wonderful'.
James, whilst recording some truly brilliant music, could often create an album that, although interesting, seemed to swing to both sides of the extreme with some great tracks and then some that should probably have been left back in the studio in the same way the Beatles did. (I love the Beatles but sometimes .... honestly boys!) However, this collection pulls together 18 great tracks that show James on their most photogenic side.
I used to listen to this CD in the car with my wife and kids and , even though none were fans of James, everyone loved the collection and would ask for the CD when in the car with me. The fact that it was either something pleasant and likeable or Megadeth is neither here nor there!
I could go on repeating most of the lyrics from this collection and singing from the rooftops about their songwriting capabilities but I would probably bore you to tears. However, if you only treat your ears to one 'best of' CD this year then make it this one. They'll be your friends forever.
You know, being a student at the time, I HATED James with a passion and still do. When you watch 100 people "sit down" at a disco - urgh! Their Indie-lite always irritated the hell out of me and with the Pixies around at the same time, why did anyone listen to this drippy dross. Anyway rant over, well reviewed anyway LOL!
es' 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...
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...
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20.03.2008 09:18
You know, being a student at the time, I HATED James with a passion and still do. When you watch 100 people "sit down" at a disco - urgh! Their Indie-lite always irritated the hell out of me and with the Pixies around at the same time, why did anyone listen to this drippy dross. Anyway rant over, well reviewed anyway LOL!
20.03.2008 00:49
Nice review x
20.03.2008 00:47
Great review