JAMES // 'BETTER THAN THAT' - EP REVIEW
MADCHESTER VETERANS JAMES RELEASE NEW EP 'BETTER THAN THAT'
JAMES - BETTER THAN THAT
★★★★☆
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly thirty years since James were at the top of their game in the height of the Madchester music phenomenon, but here we are in 2018 and the Manchester stars are still up there as one of the country’s top bands. This May sees the release of their latest four-track EP entitled Better Than That.
First formed in 1982, James made their big breakthrough in 1990 when the singles 'Come Home' and 'Sit Down' from the album Gold Mother stormed the charts. Since then and up to 2001, they have only missed the UK top 40 charts twice out of a run of 22 singles, a remarkable achievement. This year sees a return to form for the band.
The title track from the EP - 'Better Than That' - is an up-tempo, catchy number, sure to get the fans on their feet. Tim Booth’s vocals are on point and it just sounds like a typical James track, not too dissimilar in parts to the 1997 track 'Tomorrow'. This is followed by 'Busted': a much slower, very atmospheric track in the same vain as 'Top Of The World' from Gold Mother, which builds up to a crescendo and comes back down. Again Booth’s haunting vocals and the backing percussion and psychedelic guitars fall perfectly into the style of a James track, and it's sure to be another fan favourite on stage.
Track 3 is 'Hank', a heavier tune, and sung through a filtered microphone to distort the vocals slightly. Displaying a more electronic sound than the usual guitar based music of the band, it could maybe take a few listens to get used to, but could be a grower to most listeners.
Closing track is 'Broken By The Hurt', a slower, easy listening tune - Booth giving vocals to a more familiar guitar backing alongside a slow and steady drum beat, with some melancholic overtones. Sure to be a winner with the James faithful fans.
James’s loyal following will no doubt embrace the new music as much as the older classics, and could bring the band back to the attention of fans who maybe fell away during the band's quieter period. Typical James music, yes, but classic James? Hmmm……..