Customer Reviews

Seven

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

ok, let me start off by saying that this is one of my favourite albums in the entire world...and i'm a music junkie so that's saying quite a lot. i had listened to james prior to the release of "seven" in 1992 and even owned several of their previous albums but it was this record that made me fall in love with the band and decide to get everything they had ever touched with their talented little paws. it's the texture of the music and the way that it builds sonically that grabbed me...and grabs me to this day, i might add. plus the lyrics are classically james as well, thoughtful and intelligent poetry that talks of real things in a meaningful way.

some of the highlights for me are the songs "ring the bells," "seven," (from which i got the title of this review) and of course "born of frustration," the single that had a very short-lived run on college radio here in the states. "live a love of life" tackles some interesting religious questions and spiritual dilemmas, another classic james issue, and the song "don't wait that long" is truly incredible as well - i have a lot of memories of lying in a drunken broken-star formation in the dark with my friends and listening to that song over and over again. ah, the good ol' days of college...i sure don't miss that at all.

but back to james - the song "heavens" is another amazing little snippet of musical and lyrical genius...
"i've been looking through microscopes to see how our life begins,
i've been training my lens on the stars to see where it ends
but it's this living in-between that is bringing me down..."
now how can you argue with that? that's good stuff, man, and if you could hear the music with it, i'm sure you'd totally agree with me...or else.

one more interesting little tidbit about the song "sound" - i read an interview a long time ago with tim booth, the lead singer, and he said that the part at the end where he yells "do something out of character" and other things of that nature was totally ad-libbed and organic. they were in the studio recording and he wanted the band to break out of playing it the way they were used to and started yelling things out, things that happened to fit so well with the music that they kept it that way. pretty cool, eh?

so blah, blah, blah...i obviously highly recommend this album, and most of the other james albums as well. an amazing record by an amazing band - you're definitely missing out if you love music and haven't heard and assimilated this little gem.

A highlight of the musical scene of the beginning of the 90's. Though mainly considered somewhat of a 'students' album, 'SEVEN' has has become much more than that.

Vastly superior to the bands other albums, 'SEVEN' has a feeling of timelessness about it. The album speaks to the listener, appealing to all emotions that we experience, love, hate, joyful optimism, despair and anger.

I remember listening to this on my headphones on long coach trips. It took me away and made the trip an actual 'journey'.

From the opening, tingling notes of 'Born of Frustration' to the closing 'Seven' the listener will be part of the album.

Highlights of the album are 'Born of Frustration', the aching duet 'Don't wait that long' and the mournfully sweet 'Heavens'.

A snapshot in time from a band who were at their peak. Relive those memories.

I've listened to James since their first album, Stutter, fell in love with them with Sit Down, and will continue to love them in the future. SEVEN made me into a James-aholic. Every song hits you, from the urgency of Born of Frustration to the heart-pounding beauty captured in the title track. Every time I hear this album, I wish it would never end. By far, this is their most even and complete album. LAID has some powerful tracks, but its songs stand apart from each other. SEVEN is a great band at its best and most together, musically, lyrically, and spiritually.

this is a great album to get if your new to James. a awesome album from beginning to end.

have no fear. this album is beautiful, loud, and fantastic.

if your new to James. this is the best album to begin with. enjoy it.

As with most James albums, 'Seven' was panned by rock critics around the globe. The main accusation levelled at them was that they had turned their back on the more intimate sounds of earlier albums and had sold their souls to the devil of 'stadium rock'. James had sinned against indie, and for this, they must be crucified.

Unfortunately for the critics, but to the gain of music fans, it proved impossible to nail down the enigma that is James. As singer Tim Booth was quick to point out at the time, the stadium-rock accusations stemmed from the fact that one song, 'Born Of Frustration' has a chorus where Booth 'la, la-la-la la's' away in fine Jim Kerr style.

While 'Seven' is no masterpiece it is a well above average record. The production (masterfully overseen by Youth) enhances already adequate songs, leaving the listener with delights such as 'Sound' and 'Born Of Frustration'. At it's time, it was by far the best album that this Manchestercent Seven had recorded, more recently it has been supplanted by 'Laid' and 'Millionaires'. If you've been tickled by either of those albums you will enjoy 'Seven' - if not, then check out 'Laid' first.

Turn it up, dance like a rubber-man and ask yourself the eternal question... Who, exactly, is James?

It's something of an anti-climax if, like me, you heard Laid first, but that doesn't mean it's not excellent. The songs aren't as immediately stunning as those on Laid, but they quickly grow on you. One odd thing I've noticed about James is that the singles are NEVER the best songs. Born of Frustration, Ring the Bells, and Sound are good, but not the best, or even most instantly memorable, on the album. Mother is brilliantly tragic, Bring a Gun is angry but highly melodic, and my personal favourite, Next Lover, is as good as anything off Laid (which, if you've read my review of that album, you'l see is the ultimate compliment from me).

James fans (and first time listeners alike )will not be disappointed by the sheer wall of textured sound, coupled with some of their most insightful lyrics to date.The bassline from the opening of "don't wait that long",and the haunting "mother" are well worth the price of the disc.

I don't think twain's review was inappropriate at all. Thank you for sacrificing 15 unhelpfuls to alert everyone to this flagrant display of narcissistic self adulation. Just review the music and leave the personal acheivements behind.
I for one, have found your review very helpful, Twain. But keep in mind, there are lots of lonely losers out there and this is great music for them. I was one myself when I bought this album, what 15 years ago? It helped me too. He bragged about getting laid, but what he probably meant was his girlfriend fell a little bit more in love with him to this album's soundtrack. You can do it too, reader. Before you click "unhelpful" on me, think about this advice. First, you have to find a girl, then play this along with some Bryan Ferry and you'll be fine.

Many lo-fi fans prefer the minimal production of Laid -- trumpeter Andy Diagram left and Eno's studio soundscapes are subtle and fluid on that release -- but this album has an energy, lushness and spirituality that is irresistable, inspiring, intoxicating (especially live; find those boots). "Sit Down" was definitely a precursor to this album, which probably would have made them huge in the states if it weren't released the year U.S. grunge / punk kept everything else off the radio.

"Born Of Frustration" is playing off their Best Of disc as I'm typing this. This song, along with "Don't Wait That Long" and "Seven" are probably the best tracks on the whole album. In fact, every song on the album is good! I cannot get enough of the sheer emotional depth that Tim Booth and company put into their music!