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Gold Mother
(©1990, 2001 Mercury)
This is a remastered version of their 1990 breakthrough album, and contains a number of live tracks, and new packaging. I like James and have followed them for a number of years, and for whatever reason the band just never took off in a big way. They have a dedicated following, and those who like 'em like 'em a lot. Gold Mother is a solid album all the way through, but the real killer here is "Sit Down", a song so infectious it's hard not to grin and get swept along for the ride. The live version just enhances my opinion of the song. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a one song wonder, the whole album is full of wandering atmosperic pop, and when they get it right it's something to behold. There really isn't a dull moment here. Reviewed October 13, 2003 |
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Talk about a healthy collection of B-Sides. There’s a term that only us old farts recognize nowadays. Okay kiddies here how it once was … a band would release an album, and they’d release a single on what was called a 45 (no, not a gun). It had two sides, an A side and a B side. See where I’m going? Well, the first side contained the A material (get it?), and on the other side, the band would often put an unreleased song, or a throw away tune. Over time these cast offs became known as B-Sides. Eventually these songs became sought after by fans who wanted to hear everything ever recorded by the band. Anyhow, enough of my history lesson for those who knew that already (the real reason I wrote all that stuff was to fill up space, and make this look like a very long review). Which brings me to this collection. James is a band who never made the impact they deserved (okay, they haven't broken up - but singer/songwriter Tim Booth has left the band). They could craft near perfect pop tunes, and the next moment release artistic noodling Radiohead would have trouble making sense out of. Through all this the band built up a dedicated following, but seemed to just miss cracking the big time. Tim Booth has one of those voices that is distinct enough to be considered an instrument. This collection ranges from exceptional to exceptionally bad – but if you’re a fan this is something you’ll want in your collection. Heck, there are 18 songs here and if the band was looking to put out something more polished and accessible (ah, who am I kidding – this was put out by Mercury with probably zero input from the guys) they would have dropped a half dozen songs and released a right solid album. Reviewed March 12, 2002 |
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James is a strange band who don't easily fit into a nice little box. They're a band who should have been huge but never quite managed to get over the hump to the next level, while bands like Radiohead, and Cold Play attained superstar status James languished in that murky middle ground. Pleased to Meet You is one of my favourite James albums, I've said that about a lot of their stuff in the past, but this time I really mean it. The music is a pastiche of all they've done before, even incorporating the more melodic elements of Wah Wah. Heck, even the cover is a clever composite of all of the band members. From the dreamy "Space" to the hauntingly atmospheric "Alaskan Pipeline" James was wearing it's collective heart on it's sleeve. This is a beautifully crafted pop album. Sadly this album just didn't catch on - which was too bad as this album was really good. Shortly after Tim Booth the band's lead singer left the band to pursue "other interests". Although not all is doom and gloom. Apparently the boys are once again together, and a new album is expected this year. Hopefully they'll be able to introduce themselves to a few more people. Reviewed January 22, 2008 |
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It's been a long time between efforts - Tim Booth's return got the boys together again, including some of the guys who'd not been heard from for yonks. James have released an album of new songs that hearkens back to their Laid era. Trying to pull apart an album by these guys is always a trick, and frankly I find myself going back to the same comments over and over again. This isn't their best album, nor is it their worst. This is another James album and is full of etherial atmospheric music, and the emotional vocals of Tim Booth I've come to expect from these guys. My biggest worry upon hearing they were back, was whether or not they would still be relevant and if they had something to say after such a long absense. As to being relevant - who knows. Their contemporaries are still at it, so they can make a case for sticking around. The guys still have things to say, and although the band isn't known for it's lyrical punch - they do make offer up their point of view on occasion. Actually, my biggest worry was that this would suck. I need not have worried. Hey Ma is what it is. An album by James. And that's a reason to celebrate. Welcome back - what took you so long? Reviewed May 22, 2008 |
1:
Come Home (Flood Mix) 2: Lose Control 3: Government Walls 4: God Only
Knows 5: You Can't Tell How Much Suffering (On A Face That's Always
Smiling) 6: How Was It For You? 7: Sit Down 8: Walking The Ghost 9:
Gold Mother 10: Top Of The World 11: Crescendo 12: Hang On 13: Come
Home (Skunk Weed Mix) 14: Lose Control (Live At GLR) 15: Sit Down (Live
At G-Mex) 
The
songs: Gone Too Far / Honest Pleasure / Sunday Morning / China Girl
/ Still Alive / The Lake / I Defeat / Goalie’s Ball / Chunny Pops /
Tonight / Dreaming Of Tomorrow / William Burroughs / Assassin / Stolen
Horse / Undertaker / Egoiste / Van Gogh’s Dog / Where You Gonna Run?
1:
Space 2: Falling Down 3: English Beefcake 4: Junkie 5: Pleased To Meet
You 6: The Shining 7: Senorita 8: Give It Away 9: Fine 10: Getting Away
With It (All Messed Up) 11: Alaskan Pipeline
1.
Bubbles 2. Hey Ma 3. Waterfall 4. Oh My Heart 5. Boom Boom 6. Semaphore
7. Upside 8. Whiteboy 9. 72 10. Of Monsters, Heroes and Men 11. I Wanna
Go Home