James are one of the great under-appreciated UK bands. Sure, 'Sit Down' will pay their pension, but there's so many great tunes that have been swallowed up and forgotten. When people talk about the great UK bands of the 80s and 90s, they never get a nod. Early in the band's career saw an involvement with Factory Records, but they rarely get a mention when that label is talked about.
I remember very clearly when this singles collection was released. It was one of the records that made up the soundtrack to my summer of 1998. I was 13 years old, and into two things: football and music.
At that age I used to spend most of my non-school time in a park at the end of the road I lived in in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, playing football with a bunch of lads about 3 or 4 years older who lived in the neighbourhood. They always had cool CDs, and one of them was this. Seemingly endless games of headers and volleys with this record being played through tinny speakers dominated the summer.
Anyway, on to the record. Opening track 'Come Home' is a bit baggy, and then you get a run of the big hits - 'Sit Down', 'She's a Star', and 'Laid'. I wonder how annoyed Brett Anderson is that he never got to write the lines "She only comes when she's on top" or "Dressed me up in women's clothes, messed around with gender roles".
'Destiny Calling' was one of the new songs written for this compilation, and it's still one of my favourite tunes. A song about looking back and looking forward at the same time: "Tell us when our time's up, show us how to die well, show us how to let it all go."
My god, James can write a chorus.
'Tomorrow' sounds like a Coldplay song on speed, which is suitable seeing as future Coldplay collaborator Brian Eno was involved.
James do a good line in introspection and retrospection. 'Say Something' and 'Out To Get You' will hit you in the feelings, although the true beauty of 'Sometimes' only really revealed itself when James re-recorded it with an orchestra a few years back.
There's a few duds. 'Lose Control' doesn't really do much for me, 'How Was It For You?' feels a bit by-numbers.
The final song on the compilation is also the oldest tune, 'Hymn From A Village'. It shows how the band's early days were more about chaos that choruses, but it's a welcome addition and provides a contrast to the slicker sounding songs on this record.
I can't remember when I bought this - I know it wasn't in 1998 as we listened to my mate's CD - or even the last time I listened to it all the way through.
Everyone should listen to James. They never fit into any scene, and as such have a longevity that contrasts with many other acts from the 80s and 90s. There is a tenderness to the tunes, even the big arena-filling anthems, that feels more genuine than bands that came after.
8/10
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