James
Seven

THE REVIEW

At the dawn of the 1990s, a musical period when the English scene was experiencing an unprecedented drought, James really seemed to be preaching in the wilderness. Oasis and Radiohead were still far from emerging, Blur were making their first cries, The Smiths were defunct, Inspiral Carpets were on the brink of disbanding after two stunning productions, and neo-prog was at its end. In short, the six from Manchester, along with Stone Roses, Massive Attack, and a few others, were among the bands maintaining the good name of the United Kingdom.

And they were doing it in a truly spectacular way.

Between 1990 and 1993, three cornerstone episodes of their discography helped them gradually shake off the image of a protégé band of the aforementioned Smiths and opened the doors to pop, the good kind. A real turning point, kicked off in grand style with Gold Mother, continued with Seven, and beautifully concluded with Laid. Here we focus on the central album, that Seven which, according to many, represents the creative peak of the Mancunian group.

It doesn't take much to agree with this opinion because Seven, with its eleven songs, is a surprising work, from the first to the last note. Not to aim too high, but it's very likely among the top 10 pop/rock albums released in England in the '90s.

The opening trio of classics is enough to understand that the band was ready for a big leap (which unfortunately didn't happen abroad). It opens with a classic like Born Of Frustration, with Tim Booth's unforgettable falsetto gurgle, continues with the captivating Ring The Bells and the majestic Sound. It's not that describing this triptych is impossible, more so that it is pointless. What strikes in Seven is the use of trumpets, which adds an extra mood to the songs, which, as always, strike for their apparent simplicity. Apparent, yes, given the unusually numerous lineup of our band.

Going forward, Bring a Gun briefly revives the past; it’s a two-minute song that is more Smiths than the Smiths, a song smelling of Molotovs and street clashes. Then comes Mother, a slow and indolent ballad, before reaching Don't Wait That Long, probably the absolute peak of the entire album, six minutes of pure emotion, six minutes that warm the soul and serve as the perfect soundtrack for winter snowfalls. Live A Love Of Life must have been listened to several times by Richard Ashcroft before picking up the guitar and making his Verve the coolest band in the British empire. Next Lover is another majestic anthem supported by brass, Heavens vaguely recalls Say Something.

Another mention for the sweet Protect Me and its oblique guitar. Seven is yet another super classic with which James part from their listeners.

Millionaires is often referred to as the "pig album" (or pork), but Seven is really like the pig, of which, according to the proverb, nothing is wasted.

Masterful.  9.5

1 Born Of Frustration

2 Ring The Bells

3 Sound

4 Bring A Gun

5 Mother

6 Don't Wait That Long

7 Live A Love Of Life

8 Next Lover

9  Heavens

10 Protect Me

11 Seven