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/)
LAZY
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems you never have enough and the more you have the more you burn
Lately I've been quite the slob beer bottles cluttering the counter
It's like a lesson from above maybe it's time that I've learned
Jimmy Buffet made me lazy, steel drums gone to my head
He's prophesizing we're all crazy yeah Jimmy Buffett made me lazy
My wife tells me I'm pitiful accomplishments I have none
So I just button up my flowered shirt take pineapple coconut and rum
Will I stay this way forever? Only time will tell
If Jimmy Buffett made me lazy steel drums must have tazed me
I never thought that it would faze me but Jimmy Buffett made me lazy
I want to thank you my friend for putting an end to this hustling
Although I cannot afford you're shows anymore I'll go to your tailgating parties
My parrot just shit on my shirt oh my life is quite the mess
People watching from the other side probably think this life is blessed
My boss just called me for a meeting he said what's up with you these days?
Said I'm just taking inventory he said I'm giving you a raise
Jimmy Buffett made me lazy Steel drums gone to my head
He's prophesizing we're all crazy, I think that lazy's what he meant
Yeah Jimmy Buffett made me lazy steel drums must have tazed me
I never thought that it would faze me but Jimmy Buffett made me lazy
The song "Lazy" by James is about enjoying the simple pleasures of life while sitting outside on a beautiful day with a refreshing drink in hand. The opening lines "Shades on, chill out, sun's up, AM radio game on" set the tone for a relaxed and carefree atmosphere. The singer and his friends are daydrinking, not worried about anything except enjoying each other's company. Even though the temperature is hot and soaring, they are drinking away and watching the ice disappear. Throughout the song, the singer requests for someone to hand him another beer until they are down to the very last one.
The song "Lazy" celebrates mundane everyday activities; it is a song about slowing down and enjoying the beauty of a great day. This song encourages listeners to find happiness in simple pleasures and take time off from busy schedules. James emphasizes the idea that life isn't always about grandiose events like parties, adventures, or grand vacations. Sometimes, happiness lies in hanging out with close friends, watching the sun go down, and letting go of any stress.
Overall, "Lazy" is an uplifting and infectious tune that celebrates the little things in life. It inspires listeners to take time out of their busy lives to relax and unwind.
Line by Line Meaning
Shades on
We have put on our sunglasses
Chill out, sun's up, AM radio game on
We are relaxing with the AM radio on since it's a beautiful day
We're sitting outside, it's a hot ninety-five and the sun ain't sinking
We are outside enjoying the day while it's still hot
We're daydrinking
We are enjoying alcoholic drinks during daytime
Ain't thinking about doin' much else
We are not planning to do anything productive
Got a lime in the bottle, this bottle
We have put a lime inside this bottle
Can I get a can or get a refill?
Can someone give me another drink?
Ain't a cloud in the sky or a worry in my mind
There is nothing to worry about and the sky is clear
Looks like we're in the clear, clear, clear
Everything is going well and there are no obstacles
Just a-livin' the life, come the rain or sunshine
We are living life to the fullest regardless of the weather
Watching that Ice disappear, pear, pear
We are watching the ice inside the drink melt
You're doing nothing too crazy
We are not doing anything too out of the ordinary
Just getting lawn chair lazy
We are getting comfortable in our lawn chairs and relaxing
It's the party of the year just sitting here
We are having a great time even though we are just sitting here
Somebody hand me a beer, beer, beer
I would like someone to give me a beer
Touchdown
We have achieved a successful start to our day
It's Sunday, all day, no one's got nowhere to be right now
It's Sunday and nobody has any obligations
We're twist-off sipping never hashtag-winning and the drinks just hit me
We are drinking from twist-off bottles and not focused on social media, and the alcohol is starting to affect me
I'm feeling tipsy
I am starting to feel the effects of the alcohol
The next one ain't gonna get itself
I need someone to give me another drink
Somebody pass me a cool one
Can someone give me a cold drink?
Untill we're down to the last one
We will continue to drink until we run out of drinks
Until we're fee-fee-feelin' all right
We are drinking until we feel good
All right
We are having a good time
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Leonard Mirizio
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Perets
Love this one
VALENTINA IGNACIA PEÑA
me encanta :”)
Billy Bob Joe
Saw you at GROUPLOVE you guys were AMAZING instant fan got all your songs on spotify keep making bangers.
Danielle Venina
what an amazing song, I'm already a fan
Yash Charan
I love the big budget of this mv!!! Your songs deserve it
ella rose
saw you guys at the grouplove concert and instantly became obsessed with you guys and your music!!! love love love every single song you’ve put out :)
rafal blazejowski
Your music just gets better and better.
Patricia Gamez
Felicidades, me gusta mucho su música,,, 😍👏👏👏
redfirebelle belle
It’s like a Beatles vibe and I really like it 😊
Sunny Hunny
Those photo copies better be included in the upcoming merch 🥴