Coming home? James have never been away.
3/5
The Skinny – Review: James - Living in Extraordinary Times
The Skinny | Alan O'Hare
Category Archives: Article
Financial Times – Review: James' Living in Extraordinary Times — sinewy and sleek indie-rock
Financial Times | Ludovic Hunter-Tilney
It can get a bit overripe at times, like the big drums and big guitar strums that accompany Booth’s big thoughts in “Extraordinary Times”. But mostly the music is sinewy and sleek indie-rock, a vibrant statement of continuing intent.
3/5
Evening Standard – Review: James - Living in Extraordinary Times
Evening Standard | Richard Godwin
There is something undeniably impressive about James’ durability. Formed in Manchester 36 years ago, they toured with The Smiths, signed to Factory, kept pace with Madchester and Britpop and still sound more with it than bands half their age. If Coldplay released this, it would be no disgrace.
3/5
Music Week – We had a fantastic time making this record': James frontman Tim Booth on Living In Extraordinary Times
Music Week | James Hanley
“This album is one of the best we’ve ever made,” said Booth. “We didn’t know which songs to leave off and we had a big fight over it because we made too many. We had about 15 songs and we didn’t want to put them all on, that’s why we released an EP, but those songs on the EP were some people’s favourite songs in the band. We’ve made something very fresh and exciting.”
All Music – Review: James - Living in Extraordinary Times
All Music | Thomas Erlewine
Being one of the most idiosyncratic bands in modern rock history, this means Living in Extraordinary Times is plenty quirky, even if James address the Trumpian turmoil in a direct fashion that speaks both to their inherent grandiosity and Tim Booth’s allergy to metaphors. Booth raves about “fake news” on “Heads,” one of the many explicit allusions to meme double-speak and other modern plagues scattered throughout the album, but even if his words are foregrounded, they’re overwhelmed by the sheets of sounds and surplus of ideas teeming throughout the album.
3.5/5
Radio13 – Review: James - Living in Extraordinary Times
Radio13 | David Boyle
James is a band that makes me smile. Over the years they have caught my imagination, surprised me with their catchy riffs, and not been scared to approach themes that many bands, then and now, shy away from. This album, unlike their last two offerings, Girl At The End Of The World, and La Petite Mort, has a sense of urgency, verging on anger, at world events, matters of the heart, and time lost with family.
4/4
Express & Star – Review: James - Living in Extraordinary Times
Express & Star | Leigh Sanders
This is, in short, a wonderful record – full of thumping percussion, witty lyrics and a pinch of this and drop of that. It’s a real amalgamation of musical styles. Whether intentionally or not, we have hints of U2, The Killers, Interpol, Keane, The Courteeners and even Underworld strewn throughout.
8/10
Under The Radar – Review: James - Living in Extraordinary Times
Under The Radar | Aug Stone
The band have always been ones to experiment but they should be applauded for going against the entropy of repeating successful formulas so enticing in any ongoing endeavor. Especially at this late stage of the game with James’ recent releases continuing to push the envelope further and further. In every track on Living In Extraordinary Times they really go for it, taking chances that pay off most of the time.
7/10
WriteWyattUK – Examining Extraordinary Times – exploring James’ world with Saul Davies
WriteWyattUK | Malcolm Wyatt
Saul Davies: “What I think you’re alluding to there is that we’re in our 37th year and what you and I are discussing here is about songs we’ve just made. It’s really refreshing and really heartening to me that I’m in a position whereby we’re not having to talk about ‘Sit Down’ and all that. I think that’s testament to the fact that we have pushed it, and we are moving forward.”
RIFF Magazine – Album Review: Tim Booth is candid on James’ Living in Extraordinary Times
RIFF Magazine | Chloe Catajan
James delivers unadulterated dialog as always, embedding urgent matters into challenging melodic expression. It also strips its sound to bare essentials in vulnerable moments, creating an extraordinary sonic dynamic.
Independent – Review: James - Living in Extraordinary Times
Independent | Jack Shepherd
Living in Extraordinary Times marks a band still working at their full capacity, bringing new ideas and sounds while retaining what inherently makes James James – big choruses, danceable tracks, and timely lyrics. While some tracks are on the long side, how can you blame them getting carried away?
4/5
York Press – Album of the Week: James - Living in Extraordinary Times
York Press | Robert Beaumont
While most other bands from that unforgettable Madchester music era are now looking back wistfully on past achievements, James continue to make vibrant, vital new music.
5/5