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Post by wheresmourinhosdog on May 25, 2007 20:22:05 GMT -5
Listening to my James collection on my ipod, I noticed they changed a lot, from the end of the Laid/Wah Wah Period, to the Whiplash/Millionaires period (I haven't heard much of Pleased to meet you)
In the earlier years, their sound was more trumpet based, folky, psychedelic sort of music.
Songs like She's A Star, Just Like Fred, Crash, and Shooting my mouth off are simple rock, guitar, bass drums and maybe a keyboard thrown in. Also, Tim sounds really young on Crash, almost a little bit whiny!
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Post by BlackHole on May 26, 2007 7:07:39 GMT -5
Larry leaving made all the difference... he had a folky, psychedelic guitar sound so his departure from the band inevitably caused a change in sound.
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Post by sweezely on May 26, 2007 8:30:52 GMT -5
When Larry left a lot of the influence in dance music took over (the interest was already there though), and Saul also started using his violin less, which obviously increases the guitar usage. Saul's more of a rock guitarist than Larry, putting a lot of power chords and simple melodies in (whereas Larry would often play slide and improvise around riffs, giving the folkier sound). Add into that Adrian and his effects-led style (heavy use of wah, lots of arpeggios and fast, repeating riffs) which always seemed to add texture to the songs rather than be the core, and you get the guitar heavy and dance inspired sound of Millionaires and Whiplash.
With Larry in the band, he and Jim really provided the bulk of the sound. Everything else just served to beef it up. Then when he left, Jim seemed to be less at a forefront and the other members start really shaping the sound. Take a song like Crash - though a great song, it's really only Saul keeping it together, setting the rhythm and the style with his guitar. The bass, drums, lead guitar and keyboards aren't important. If you look at Getting Away With It, you can see similar - they've quite easily removed Adrian and Michael's addition to the rhythm parts, even made the drums and keyboards kick in later, and yet it's fundamentally the same song.
Saul really is responsible for a lot of the new (well, old, because there's a new new sound) sound because the poor band situation meant he stepped up and did a lot of work on the later stuff. But by Pleased To Meet You they're getting back to a band dynamic again, especially on the songs that were late additions, like Space. Personally, I really liked that period because that was when I got into James.
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Madchester
Whiteboy
Bernard! It's hot in the worm.
Posts: 763
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Post by Madchester on May 26, 2007 9:26:16 GMT -5
That change in sound is probably the result of the different approach in songwriting in the 'Larryless' years. They jammed around a lot less, I gather from interviews, and songwriting was achieved in more individual components (i.e. Saul for example worked very hard on the songs) and the result is, you get less 'psychedelic' or 'trippy' and more 'rocky' songs since the songwriting resembles more a production process in stages than something that suddenly arises from endless jamming. I'd say that latter type of song leaves more room for improvisation, as can be heard in the live versions of those songs compared to the 'old new' stuff. Anyway I also agree with the above.
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Post by saulisgod on May 26, 2007 11:46:48 GMT -5
Millionaires was just a commercialised album and the sound of the album reflects it, their next album with pleased to meet you on was a return to a base James sound. Saul's involvment in song writing took the band to the forefront of the indie music scene in the UK, Larry's works are slightly more obscure.
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Post by playdead on May 28, 2007 14:04:22 GMT -5
Millionaires was just a commercialised album and the sound of the album reflects it, their next album with pleased to meet you on was a return to a base James sound. Saul's involvment in song writing took the band to the forefront of the indie music scene in the UK, Larry's works are slightly more obscure. I agree, but I quite like Millonaires. I think Pleased To Meet You is my favourite James album although this changes regularly.
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Post by saulisgod on Jun 3, 2007 18:28:31 GMT -5
I liked Millionaires but you felt it wasn't James somehow!
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Post by bobbyperu2 on Jun 17, 2007 11:20:33 GMT -5
I think the arrival of Michael Kulas changed the sound quite a bit, on Millionaires especially there is an element of "let's all pile in for the chorus" that means things get a wee bit repetitive.
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Post by W-H-I-T-E-B-O-Y on Jul 10, 2008 14:41:13 GMT -5
I think Pleased To Meet You is my favourite James album although this changes regularly. I couldn't agree with you more. All the stars were in alignment when they made that album. I have favorite songs from other albums, but as a whole, PTMY is tops.
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Post by Mac on Aug 2, 2008 6:43:42 GMT -5
On Millionaires Saul led the songwriting process? Hmmm, fair enough, then he deserves some credit for writing some excellent songs. Picked up your jaw? Unfortunately Saul's production then nullifies all the good work. ;D I think sweezley's explanation regarding Adrian/Larry styles is better than I could have put it so I'll leave it at that - the point that there was more of an organic songwriting process with Larry is reflected in the sound of the songs in my opinion.
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Post by hymnfromavillage on Sept 11, 2008 15:12:07 GMT -5
immeditlally after the Moles Club (One Man Clapping) Gig they got andy, mark, dave and saul; the james line up we know today. OMC is really the last orginal James show.
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Post by Mac on Sept 12, 2008 13:10:38 GMT -5
I think Mr Gilbertson might have something to say on that issue, as when he left the 'original' line-up would never play again.
I preferred them when he was in the band - everything after he left/was sacked is rubbish.
;D
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Post by takemeanywhere on Sept 12, 2008 18:57:31 GMT -5
What are you going on about?
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Post by oneofthethree on Sept 13, 2008 3:23:18 GMT -5
i think it's called "scouse" "wit"
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Post by saulisgod on Sept 13, 2008 6:52:01 GMT -5
I think Pleased To Meet You is my favourite James album although this changes regularly. I couldn't agree with you more. All the stars were in alignment when they made that album. I have favorite songs from other albums, but as a whole, PTMY is tops. I agree......Senorita kicks ass as does Junkie
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