Whiplash

by

James

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Everyone has his own taste in music, and for that reason it's a very sebjective matter. First of all, I love James. That said, I consider this their best album because it moves me the most.

Of course, if you aren't familiar with James, I recommend The Best Of, which includes three tracks from this disc: Tomorrow, Waltzing Along, and She's a Star. One thing I've noticed about James, though, is that the songs on their albums that appear on The Best Of have a very distinct quality. And in some ways they give only a slight indication of what each album is like. On Whiplash, the other songs are wonderful and wonderfully different from those three.

Lost a Friend is by far my favorite track with it's harpsichord sounds in some parts and great guitar rifts in the others. And moving lyrics that take notice of our absorption in our televisions and the violence we see there from other parts of the world and our own militaries.

This album also seems experimental in booming bass rhythms and a dance-like quality (dance club). But that description is poor and don't let it suggest that the lyrics have suffered because of it. The new sound adds just another facet to James (one that you hear more of on Millionaires) that you don't hear on The Best Of, and perhaps wouldn't dream of hearing if you've only heard, say, Laid.

Whiplash, except perhaps for the most recent Pleased to Meet You, is James' strongest social critique. While the subject matter can be sad (or saddening)-- like a pleading mother earth (Greenpeace) or a harsh attack on what seems like a materialistic American culture that loses itself in the TV and the mall (Go to the Bank)-- this disc has elements of hope, unfortunately mixed with despair. It opens with a song urging its listeners, no matter how awful things may be, to keep holding on 'til tomorrow, but the album ends with the line "Blue Pastures fade away."

This is a good album. Some apparently disagree with me, but I consider this essential James. It's proved, to me, even more essential than The Best Of, but, of course, I'd still recommend that as the place to start for those who haven't heard of James.

This has its moments, but it's not nearly as good as Seven or Laid. Even when the songs hit (and most of them *are* a bit too pop-oriented for their own good), they never have the emotional depth of the band's earlier work (although Booth's voice is, as always, to die for). The singles Tomorrow, Waltzing Along, and She's a Star stand out, as do the angry environmental rant of Greenpeace and the anti-commercialism of Go to the Bank; most of the rest of the songs, while pleasant enough, don't make a huge impression. Still worth owning for the James devotee, but check out their previous albums (Laid in particular) first.