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/)
Van Gogh's Dog
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As far as these words will hold you together
As far as this time will last forever
As far as this skill will endeavor
As far as this dream will burst into madness
As far as this peace will string you to part
As far as this still will make you another
Oh god, it's you I'm calling down
Oh god, it's you I'm falling, wait
Oh god, it's you I'm calling down
As far as this film will take you together
As far as this fall, I wanted to hurt you
I don't let you go, I want you to say never
I won't let you go into the ether
Oh god, I love you coming
Oh god, I love to come with you
Down, down, down
The lyrics of James's song, Van Gogh's Dog, delve into various themes, including love, regret, and madness. As James contemplates the various forms of temporal existence - ranging from dreams and words to time and films - he seems to express an existential anxiety about the fleeting nature of life. Despite the ephemeral quality of existence, James suggests that certain things endure and bring people together. Words seem to have a binding effect, a way of holding together what would otherwise fall apart. But as much as words can heal and unite, they can also cause madness and pain - a theme that is emphasized by the mention of a 'pill' that can hold us together. Indeed, the song seems to suggest that the very things that make life bearable can also drive us to the depths of despair.
The second half of the song is laced with several references to religion, as James seemingly calls out to God to save him from the madness that the lyrics suggest is encroaching on him. Although James doesn't seem to have an orthodox belief in God - he uses 'God' as a metaphor for a savior who can help him out of his spiritual malaise. As he sings "Oh god, it's you I'm calling down/Oh god, it's you I'm falling, wait," it becomes clear that he views God as his last hope for redemption.
In 'Van Gogh's Dog,' James has created a work of art that combines various emotions with rich imagery to create a unique listening experience. The song seems to suggest that the world is a contradictory place, where good and evil, love and hate, exist side by side. However, amidst all the chaos, there are still things that make life worth living: love, words, and the desire to hold on to what we cherish dearly.
Line by Line Meaning
As far as this time will bring you together
No matter how long it takes, you will be brought together
As far as these words will hold you together
The power of these words will keep you united
As far as this time will last forever
The time you spend together will never end
As far as this skill will endeavor
The level of skill put forth will result in success
As far as this dream will burst into madness
This dream will lead to chaos and confusion
As far as this peace will string you to part
The peace you feel will result in separation
As far as this still will make you another
The outcome of this situation will change you
As far as this pill will hold you together
This pill will maintain your unity
Oh god, it's you I'm calling down
I need your help, oh God
Oh god, it's you I'm falling, wait
I'm falling towards you, please wait for me
Oh god, it's you I'm calling down
I need your help, oh God
As far as this film will take you together
This film will bring you closer
As far as this fall, I wanted to hurt you
I had intentions to harm you during this fall
I don't let you go, I want you to say never
I won't allow you to leave, I want your promise that you won't
I won't let you go into the ether
I refuse to let you slip away
Oh god, I love you coming
I love the feeling of you coming towards me, oh God
Oh god, I love to come with you
I love to be with you, oh God
Down, down, down
Descending further
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mikeandjanane
Love this great song!
Ruben Arroyo S
INCREDIBLE SONG!!!!
Bigfeaz
Fantastic, B-side Whiplash can’t be beat
alastair74
eck you're a marvel... you're bringing me beautiful music i would never have known about, even from a band i love!
kao8855
this song is great!
ildauro
majestuoso
Basil Victor Homer
Only James knows how to do WEIRD so wonderfully..
Thanks for uploading Alex.
Eric Crawford
Define 'weird'.
David Lea
What about Chunney Chops?