Getting Away with It...Live

James | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: June 11, 2002
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sanctuary
• Copyright: 2002 Sanctuary Records a division of Sanctuary Records Group
• Genres: Alternative Rock/British Alternative, Alternative Rock/Live Recordings, Pop/Live Recordings, Pop/Pop Rock, Rock/Live Albums
• ASIN: B000S54XLE
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars really..., August 13, 2002

By 

H. Yu "smashnthrash" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Away With It: Live (Audio CD)

Where can I begin? For starters, since I've never seen nor heard James live in concert, this double CD will have to do. GAWI...L is James live at their final concert (w/Tim Booth anyway) in Manchester, England, recorded Dec. 7th, 2001. It is also James at their very finest, performing their songs with such beauty and poetry. The hometown crowd manages to show their appreciation through cheers and sing-a-longs. Compared to their studio performances, the band gives their songs a spontaneity and freshness that in some cases make the live versions better than the studio versions! In any case, GAWI...L is a fitting testimony for a band that's been together for almost twenty years! Songs like "Sometimes", "Laid", "God Only Knows", and "Sound" reveal the band's unique and passionate take on folksy art-rock music. The highlight is the closer "Sit Down" where both Tim and the audience sing a slowed-down version of the song. Anyways, with twenty-two songs (about two hours worth of music), James put on a stellar performance. It's a shame that Tim is leaving the band. But at least, they left us this fine live concert recording which we can listen to again and again! BTW, in case you didn't know, the DVD is also available! (but only in the UK, and it's Region 2, PAL format) The DVD, however, does not include "I Know What I'm Here For" and "Hymn From A Village". Assuming your DVD player can play Region 2 DVD's in the PAL format, I'd highly recommend it! (you can get it through amazon.co.uk) In addition to the live performances, it comes with other additional features!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If only I'd had the chance to hear them live..., August 17, 2002

By 

"mahler3-79" (Indianapolis, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting Away With It: Live (Audio CD)

I listen to this CD and think "dammit, why did I only just get introduced to this band three years ago and why do I live in the U.S.!?" I envy any of you Americans out there who had the chance to see James in the States. And, of course, now it's too late to see them anywhere. But...on with a review.

For any James fan, this album sells itself. And I'll admit, even though I only started listening to James three years ago, I have managed to amass all of their albums, my point being that I'm a bit biased. Speaking of, I also envy any of you out there that have your hands on any James singles before Millionaires, especially those containing songs left off their album of B-sides.

Anyway, the highlights of this 2-discer for me are, in no particular order, "Sit Down", "Johnny Yen", and "Protect Me". I find that there are a number of things one can do to improve a song for a live performance: add accoustic guitar, slow it down a bit, and/or throw in some nice piano playing. The best example of any of this is "Sit Down". Appropriately, it's the last song (and decidedly my favo(u)rite after hearing this recording) of the concert. Here, it starts off with a very nice piano part, and it's funny because it takes the audience more than a few moments to figure out (at least to me) which song they're hearing. But there's the piano and the first verse, before the chorus chimes in, which is slowed down a great deal and, as a result, even more poignant.

I won't ramble on much longer, only to say this. For me a great live album re-emphasizes just how great a band is and just how truly wonderful are their songs. I go away from this album with a better understanding of every song here, loving many of them even more, and, as someone on the west side of the pond, very happy to hear an entire crowd singing soulfully along with Tim Booth, having only encountered a handful of people over here who know who James are, and even fewer who can name a song beyond "Laid".

Buy this album and enjoy!!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fond Farewell from James!, July 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Getting Away With It: Live (Audio CD)

Don't pass this piece up - it is exquisite. The versions on here of "Out to Get You" and "Sit Down" alone are worth the price. The entire 2 CD compilation is great listening. James may be through (even if they choose to continue without the lead singer) but their skill on this album makes a long time fan like myself feel they're just hitting stride . . .

Tim Booth, lead singer since the band was founded (circa 1983) is leaving to pursue a solo career. Why? Who knows. My advice to him, ask Morrissey how record sales are these days! Why did Mercury Records (USA) drop this band in 1998? Crazy. Must have had to make room for Jennifer Love Hewitt. Thus, if you missed "Millionaires", James' 1999 UK-only release - GET IT - it's awesome. 2000's "Pleased to Meet You", the last studio album with Booth, is a must only for die-hard James fans. It's disappointing much like "Whiplash" was after following the smash hit "Laid".

As Tolkien said, "much that was good in this world has passed". So too James. Adieu!