James - Laid (Great Alternative Rock 1993)

After having become superstars in the U.K. with songs like "Sit Down" and then undergone an acoustic American tour opening for Neil Young, James took a consciously quieter, subtler turn with its follow-up to Seven, Laid. This turned out not merely to be a nice way to undercut expectations, but a creative benchmark for the group, arguably its artistic peak. While there had always been a folky, rushed element to the band's work in its earliest days, the now-sextet, following the departure of trumpet Andy Diagram to concentrate on the Spaceheads, here focused instead on understated, moody compositions. Part of this approach no doubt had something to do with Brian Eno's production work, and certainly it's another feather in his cap. While his work with U2 combined with James' own seeming assumption of that band's throne in big rock terms could have resulted in The Joshua Tree redux, that didn't prove to be the case. Admittedly, a couple of songs are specifically aimed at arena-level singalongs, including lead single "Sometimes," which almost drowns under its own weight and speed, and the title track, a celebration of love and lust that ended up giving the band a surprise stateside radio hit. But Tim Booth generally avoids Bono's melodramatics in both hushed and soaring mode, his ruminative singing sounding more like the calm reflections after energetic action, the band's quiet soundscapes a perfect combination of Eno's ear for space and vastness and the group's own abilities. Strong tracks are legion, including "One of the Three," allegedly about British hostages in Lebanon but much more accurately a sharp, harrowing meditation on Jesus and apparently meaningless sacrifice, and the low-key beauties of "Out to Get You" and "Knuckle Too Far." But the best punch is right at the end -- the heartbreaking "Lullaby," a piano-led sigh of regret and wistful hope, and "Skindiving," Booth's near-wordless keen at his most affecting, floating over the low-volume shuffle and bite of the band.

AMG Review by Ned Raggett

James - Getting Away with It ...Live (2001)

Recorded live at the Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England on December 7, 2001. One of Britain's beloved pop bands, James, officially called it quits in December 2001 after founder Tim Booth announced his departure weeks earlier. You could say it marked an end of an era -- a bittersweet end of the heyday of Madchester. The double-disc Getting Away with It: Live captures James' last evening together, the final show on their farewell tour hosted in their working-class hometown of Manchester, England, and a remarkable look back at some of the band's shining moments from their 20-year career. Getting Away with It: Live is celebratory throughout the entire album. Booth is typically sweet, talking to the audience between songs while adding a dash of English wit. Selections from their global smash Laid go over well; the harmonies of "Sometimes" are heartwrenchingly beautiful. "Out to Get You" breathes similar life, and Booth heaves a sigh in the process. Andy Diagram's surprise appearance on the rumbling good time of "God Only Knows" picks up the pace, while the classic "Johnny Yen" is an extra bonus. Former guitarist Larry Gott is eventually added to the musical fray, alongside newer members like guitarists Adrian Oxaal and Michael Kulas, leaving the dynamic of the show to exude a powerful warmth. James' musical prowess on the anthemic "Born of Frustration" and the 11-minute sonic storm of "Sound" are great representations of what made them a brilliant pop band in the first place. Their energy is infectious, particularly on the swan song "Sit Down." No one else has given a punch to the gut with a smile quite like James, and Getting Away with It: Live commemorates that.

Disc One

1. "Say Something"
2. "Waltzing Along"
3. "Sometimes"
4. "Laid"
5. "I Know What I'm Here For"
6. "God Only Knows"
7. "Someone's Got It In For Me"
8. "Vervaceous"
9. "Protect Me"
10. "Out To Get You"
11. "Hymn From A Village"
12. "Johnny Yen"

Disc Two

1. "Getting Away With It"
2. "Tomorrow"
3. "Born of Frustration"
4. "Ring the Bells"
5. "Top of the World"
6. "Sound"
7. "Space"
8. "She's A Star"
9. "Come Home"
10. "Sit Down"

AMG Review by MacKenzie Wilson