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/)
Folklore
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those words are a piece of a part that you played
That sounds like your father, a teacher, the church
Didn't spring from the heart, but research
The only way I learn is put the fist in and get burned
Go get burned
Wise men, rich men, shamen and sage
When you're meek on the Earth, when you die you will pay
For accepting that lot, in the cheapest of graves
The sexes divided, men mustn't be weak
Sensitivity is a vice of which we shan't speak
And women are a plaything that are just made for men
To treat how the boss he respects treats him
And I am going to grow up like daddy wanted me to be
To impress all those, who so impressed me
And young boys melt into men
And we'll start the process again
Add a touch of mystique where the writing gets weak
Break up coherence with a cut-cut-cut up technique
When you've got nothing to say
Shut up
Or show that you're willing to play
With words that simply aren't out of touch
With the genuine feelings which lead to their birth
Most things are better not written or heard
When you open your mouth, out drops a turd
The only way I learn is put the fist in and get burned.
The song "Folklore" by James is a commentary on the ways in which societal norms and expectations can be limiting and harmful to individuals. The first verse focuses on how people often regurgitate the beliefs and opinions of their parents, teachers, and churches without stopping to consider whether they truly believe them. The language used - "research" - implies a sense of surface-level knowledge rather than genuine depth of understanding. The second verse highlights the ways in which gender norms are often restrictive, punishing those who deviate from expected behaviors. The use of the phrase "cheapest of graves" further emphasises the dangers of conformity, implying that those who blindly accept societal norms will never truly live fulfilling lives.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift towards a focus on language and the ways in which words can be used to manipulate and mislead. The lines "Add a touch of mystique where the writing gets weak / Break up coherence with a cut-cut-cut up technique" demonstrate an understanding of how language can be used to create an illusion of depth and meaning where none truly exists. The final line - "When you open your mouth, out drops a turd" - is a clear condemnation of those who use language to deceive rather than communicate truthfully.
Overall, "Folklore" is a powerful commentary on societal pressures and the importance of critically examining the beliefs and norms that we are taught to accept. The use of language is particularly striking, emphasising the importance of honesty and clarity in communication.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen your mouth moving, heard others here say,
I have observed your lips moving and have heard from others that what you spoke is not genuine and just a performance.
Those words are a piece of a part that you played
The words you spoke are a part of an act that you performed.
That sounds like your father, a teacher, the church
The words you spoke resemble the words of your father, a teacher, or the church.
Didn't spring from the heart, but research
Those words did not come from your heart, rather they were just a product of your research.
Old wives, mystics, hearsay
Beliefs/opinions from old wives, mystics, and hearsay.
Wise men, rich men, shamen and sage
Beliefs/opinions from wise, rich, shamen and sage men.
When you're meek on the Earth, when you die you will pay
If you are weak in this world, after you die, you will be punished for it.
For accepting that lot, in the cheapest of graves
You will be buried in the cheapest grave for accepting your fate.
The sexes divided, men mustn't be weak
The sexes are divided and men should not be seen as weak.
Sensitivity is a vice of which we shan't speak
Sensitivity is seen as a weakness and it is not good to speak about it.
And women are a plaything that are just made for men
Women are considered as objects for men to play with.
To treat how the boss he respects treats him
To treat women in the same way that the boss he respects treats him.
And I am going to grow up like daddy wanted me to be
I will grow up as my father hoped I would grow up.
To impress all those, who so impressed me
To impress all those who have impressed me before.
And young boys melt into men
Young boys become mature men.
And we'll start the process again
This process will be repeated again and again.
Add a touch of mystique where the writing gets weak
Add some mystery to the writing when it becomes weak.
Break up coherence with a cut-cut-cut up technique
Disturb the coherence of the writing with a cut-cut-cut up technique.
When you've got nothing to say
When you have nothing to say.
Shut up
It is better to be quiet.
Or show that you're willing to play
Alternatively, show that you are ready to participate.
With words that simply aren't out of touch
Use words that are not out of touch from genuine feelings that lead to their creation.
With the genuine feelings which lead to their birth
Use genuine feelings that lead to the creation of the words.
Most things are better not written or heard
Most things are better left unsaid and unheard.
When you open your mouth, out drops a turd
When you speak, what comes out of your mouth is garbage.
The only way I learn is put the fist in and get burned.
The only way the singer learns is by making mistakes and suffering the consequences.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES RED MCLEOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulthomas2178
I first saw James live in September 1984 or 85, my memory fails me. It was at Hinchingbrooke House Huntingdon.
@pandawandas
"I've seen your mouth moving, heard others here say
Those words are a piece of a part that you played
That sounds like your father, a teacher, the church
Didn't spring from the heart, but research"
me