Album Review

James – The Night Before

• 6th Apr 2010

Tim Booth and comrades come bouncing back this year with the first of two mini albums. This release displays James’ admirable staying power as a band – whilst at the same time not really veering into any new territory.

Tim Booth has a voice that just can’t really be faulted, he is a perfect match for the music around him – and quite the performer when it comes to doing it live. And whilst he is showing no signs of giving anything less than a sterling performance here – the material they have written is one that maybe needs to be listened to a few times before any final verdict settles in.

The song being fronted for this release, “Crazy,” has an inspired story behind it with Booths recovery from liver disease. Whilst it is fairly memorable a song – it doesn’t touch the heights of say “Born of Frustration.”

“Porcupine” perhaps puts on more of an impression with what seems like a bigger effort in terms of force being made on all the part of all the musicians.

So what we largely get is familiar territory, decent vocals and some wonderful guitar. But ultimately it feels like ordinary album songs. We then muse upon what may be in store for the second release to follow.