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/)
all messed up
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's okay
We're insured
Are you aching for the grave?
That's okay
We're insured
We're getting away with it
Getting away with it
All messed up
That's the living
Daniel's saving Grace
She's out in deep water
Hope he's a good swimmer
Daniel plays his ace
Deep inside his temple
He knows how to surf her
We're getting away with it
All messed up
Getting away with it
All messed up
That's the living
Daniel drinks his weight
Drinks like Richard Burton
Dance like John Travolta, now
Daniel's saving Grace
He was all but drowning
Now they live like dolphins
Getting away with it
All messed up
Getting away with it
All messed up
That's the living
Getting away with it
Getting away with it
Getting away with it
That's the living
That's the living
The song "Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)" by James features lyrics that explore themes of recklessness, indulgence and escapism in a slightly detached and non-judgmental tone. The repeated lines "Are you aching for the blade? / That's okay, we're insured / Are you aching for the grave? / That's okay, we're insured" suggest that the singer and their associates are engaging in dangerous or self-destructive behavior, but are not too concerned about the consequences because they have some sort of safety net. This can be read as a commentary on the nihilistic impulses that can arise in people who feel alienated or disillusioned with society, or as a metaphor for the hubris and invincibility that can come with youth and privilege.
The second half of the song focuses more specifically on a character named Daniel, who is portrayed as a charismatic but troubled figure who lives in a state of excess and relies on his wits to get by. The line "Deep inside his temple / He knows how to surf her" may refer to Daniel's ability to manipulate or charm the people around him, or to his skill in navigating the chaotic world he inhabits. The repeated refrain "That's the living / Getting away with it" serves as both a disavowal of responsibility and a celebration of the freedom that comes with living on the edge.
Overall, "Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)" can be read as a complex and nuanced commentary on the human impulse to seek excitement and escape, even at the risk of self-harm or self-destruction. It portrays this impulse as a double-edged sword that can open up new vistas of experience and possibility, but can also lead to a sense of drift and disconnection.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you aching for the blade?
Do you have a desire to harm yourself? Don't worry, we have insurance to cover you in case of injury.
That's okay
Even if you have that desire, it's okay; we'll take care of you.
Are you aching for the grave?
Are you contemplating suicide? Again, we have insurance to cover you.
We're getting away with it
We're doing something we shouldn't be, but haven't been caught yet.
All messed up
We're not doing it perfectly, we're making mistakes.
That's the living
This is what it means to be alive - making mistakes and taking risks.
Daniel's saving Grace
Daniel has found someone who has become his savior.
She's out in deep water
This person is in a dangerous situation.
Hope he's a good swimmer
Hopefully, Daniel is capable of helping this person who is in this dangerous situation.
Daniel plays his ace
Daniel is using his best strategy to solve the problem at hand.
Deep inside his temple
His mind is focused and working hard to solve the problem.
He knows how to surf her
He knows how to navigate and handle the situation with this person.
Daniel drinks his weight
Daniel drinks a lot of alcohol, probably too much.
Drinks like Richard Burton
He has a reputation for drinking heavily, like the late actor Richard Burton.
Dance like John Travolta, now
Despite his excessive drinking, he can still dance well, like John Travolta.
He was all but drowning
Daniel was struggling and almost drowning himself.
Now they live like dolphins
Daniel and his savior are now living carefree, like happy dolphins swimming in the ocean.
Getting away with it
Once again, they're doing something they shouldn't be, but are not being caught.
Getting away with it
They're doing something risky or dangerous, but so far they're not facing any consequences.
That's the living
Continuing to take risks and live impulsively is just part of being alive.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID JOHN BAYNTON-POWER, JAMES GLENNIE, MARK HUNTER, SAUL DAVIES, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@panosfloyd858
Why are James soo underrated? Their music fills you with joy and cheerfulness. Making meaningful and joyous music is extremely difficult like writing meaningful, joyous poetry or any other form of art. Our world is full of depression and those who fight against this monotony should be recognized and admired
@benzobrimzs
I don't think they are.
@Fwibos
Uh...clearly you haven't heard some of their early stuff. Lester Piggott is about suicide. They juxtapose happiness and despair in every one of their songs. Their most famous song is about mental illness.
They are a good band. But they aren't about being happy.
@paulbradnick786
They are only underrated to those who don't know...console yourself with the fact that you do.
@Maynke
James is like if music had character actors: you have heard them - a lot, possibly more than you realize, but you just don't know their name.
@raykennyisazarueda4293
I’m crying with you comment. Fuck
@thenuttynavigator
Beautiful.🤟💯It's 2022 now and I still love this tune. Very positive! ❤️
@VinkoBilic-ol7lr
KGB is little children compers to you😂😂😂😂😂😂
@veraluciadeandrade9044
2023❤, sempre ouço em deixa ❤
@rong2912
The video ruins the song