James formed in Manchester in 1982, when Paul Gilbertson (guitar), Jim Glennie (bass), and Gavan Whelan (drums) met Tim Booth (vocals) at Manchester University and asked him to join their fledgling band. During the next year, James became regulars on the local club circuit, and by 1983 they had signed to Factory, releasing their debut EP, Jimone, later that year. Two years later, their second EP, James 2, was released, and Morrissey, the lead singer of the Smiths, publicly endorsed the group, asking them to open for his band. By the summer of 1985, Larry Gott had replaced Gilbertson, and the group signed to Sire Records. Working with producer Lenny Kaye, the group recorded its debut, Stutter, that year, releasing it in early 1986 to generally positive reviews.
Over the next two years, James toured constantly, building up a solid fan base. They released their second album, the folky Strip-Mine, in 1988. The record failed to capitalize on their live following, and the band departed Sire the following year, signing with the independent Rough Trade. On their new label, James released the moderately successful "Sit Down" and the live album One Man Clapping, which climbed to number one on the indie charts. In 1990, Whelan was replaced by David Baynton-Power, and James expanded to a septet with the addition of keyboardist Mark Hunter, violinist Saul Davies, and trumpeter Andy Diagram. The new lineup signed to Fontana Records and released Gold Mother in the fall. Following a handful of minor hit singles, Gold Mother finally became a breakthrough success in the spring of 1991, when a re-recorded version of "Sit Down" -- now boasting a contemporary baggy beat -- climbed to number two on the U.K. charts and became a staple on U.S. modern rock radio. Although the success of "Sit Down" was a blessing, it also was a curse, as the single became all James were known for. The band began to rebel in concert, playing almost nothing but new material, and its next album, 1992's Seven, was perceived as a misguided stab at big arena rock.
For the follow-up to Seven, James stripped away Diagram and worked with producer Brian Eno. The resulting record, Laid, was a quieter, more ambitious album, and it received some of the band's best reviews. While the album was ignored in the U.K., it was an alternative rock hit in the U.S. on the strength of the title track, which became a crossover hit. During the Laid sessions, James recorded another album's worth of experimental music with Eno that was released in the fall of 1994 as Wah Wah. The album received mixed reviews and the group took an extended break throughout 1995, partly due to guitarist Gott's departure. In 1996, Tim Booth recorded a collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet) entitled Booth and the Bad Angel, which received generally positive reviews.
With guitarist Adrian Oxaal in tow, James returned in early 1997 with Whiplash, a more straightforward record that was greeted with mixed reviews. Released in 1999, Millionaires, recorded with new guitarist Michael Kulas, was initially released only in the U.K. Their spectacular follow-up, 2001's Pleased to Meet You, was also available only in the U.K. A few months later, frontman Tim Booth announced his departure from the band he founded nearly 20 years before, and James called it quits following a winter tour of the U.K. in December 2001. The break was short-lived, however, as the band re-formed in 2007 and embarked on a tour in support of the double-disc compilation Fresh as a Daisy: The Singles. The following year saw the release of Hey Ma, James' tenth studio album.
The band returned in 2010 with a pair of "mini-albums" called The Night Before and The Morning After, respectively, before late 2011 brought a short, but novel, U.K. tour (the Orchestra of the Swan and the Manchester Consort Choir were their backup bands). In 2012, the lavish and long-awaited box set The Gathering Sound was issued, and included previously unreleased audio material alongside long-unavailable video concert footage. Details of the Max Dingel-produced La Petite Mort emerged in February 2014, and this first post-Mercury studio album was released four months later in June. Dingel then returned to produce their 2016 record, Girl at the End of the World. Written in Scotland and recorded in London, the album was described by the band as "big but personal, abrasive but warming" and "ultimately uplifting." Two years later, James teamed with producers Charlie Andrew and Beni Giles for Living in Extraordinary Times.
During the 2020 pandemic, Tim Booth teamed up with his Topanga Canyon neighbor Jacknife Lee to construct the basic tracks the rest of James completed while in quarantine. The resulting All the Colours of You was released in June 2021.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There are other artists using the same name:
2) James is the vocalist of popular Bangladeshi band Nagar Baul. He was a member of the band Feelings and later formed the band Nagar Baul. James was raised in Chittagong and later moved to Dhaka for his singing career. Stylishly longhaired James--overwhelmingly known as the Nagar Baul (the City Bard), was the pioneer of psychedelic rock in Bangladesh. Originally a lead singer and guitarist, he has always been respected for his solo projects. He became affectionately called Guru by his fans. His tunes were bright and his singing a divergence from the archetypal tunes preferred by the commercial-type directors. His songs expressed love, rage, discontent, frustration, and happiness.
3) A Dutch rapper connected to the Fakkelteitgroep.
4) James Lee - known as James - was a former member of Royal Pirates, a South Korean band. On 2015, he got into an accident that caused him unable to play bass any longer. Hence, he decided to left the band.
James moved back to Los Angeles and decided to release music written post accident in a project called ’the Light EP’ consisted of 5 tracks. (http://jamesleeofficial.com/)
Basic Brian
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Surround your mind
Soft cloud, take me around again
On your rain
My dreams tell me everything
Surprise around
Call out your name
I need help again
What you was, said is sure
Running on the seventh floor
Do it all, let it slide
Breathe yourself goodbye
See it all through the wall
Living outside again
Need a long way to go
Said you our escape
I died, when you fall again
Say out
I lied
I love feeling small again
All around, satisfied
In the song Basic Brian by James, the lyrics express a contemplative mood, as they describe the sensation of rain against the mind and the recurring presence of dreams that offer insight and surprises. The repeated mention of a name and the cry for help suggest a longing for connection and support, possibly representing a personal struggle with mental health or a challenging situation. The line "For all love brigade" evokes a sense of community and shared experience, reinforcing the idea that the themes of the song may speak to a broader audience.
The lyrics also touch upon themes of self-reflection and transformation, as the persona appears to be in a process of letting go and moving forward. The lines "Do it all, let it slide, breathe yourself goodbye" suggest the need to release old patterns and embrace a fresh start, while "I love feeling small again, all around, satisfied" hints at a newfound appreciation for humility and simplicity.
Line by Line Meaning
Rain, rain's floating down again
The rain is falling down again, as it does so often
Surround your mind
Let the sound of the rain encompass your thoughts
Soft cloud, take me around again
The gentle mist feels inviting, taking the artist on a journey
On your rain
The rain is like the music of the artist
My dreams tell me everything
The artist is inspired by his dreams and they guide him
Surprise around
Surprises are everywhere, waiting to be discovered
Call out your name
The artist needs help and is calling on someone by name
I need help again
The artist needs assistance
For all love brigade
This line is unclear in meaning
What you was, said is sure
It's clear what was said before
Running on the seventh floor
The artist is using imagery to describe an experience
Do it all, let it slide
Let go and do it all, as life is fleeting
Breathe yourself goodbye
Death is like a breath being expelled, signaling the end of life
See it all through the wall
The artist can see everything through the wall of life, like it's transparent
Living outside again
The artist feels like he's living outside of life
Need a long way to go
The journey ahead is long
Said you our escape
The artist made plans for them to escape
I died, when you fall again
The artist is deeply hurt when the other person falls
Say out
This line is unclear in meaning
I lied
The artist admits to telling a lie
I love feeling small again
The artist enjoys feeling humble and appreciates the simple things in life
All around, satisfied
The artist is content with everything that surrounds him
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRIAN ENO, JAMES GLENNIE, LAWRENCE GOTT, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind