Customer Reviews

Whiplash

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

Unlike some other listeners I did not accidently purchase this album, nor was I disappointed. Creative bands continually explore their sound, unlike some bands (ie. Bush). "Whiplash" is different than their CD's "Laid" (which was mellow) or "Millionares" (which is heavy on the synth side), this release boasts powerful guitars, classic James lyrics and a different direction. Overall this reminds me of their Gold Mother disc, which was fun and unpredictable. Their sound is unique to other releases and more resembles the extra songs from their "Best of" CD like Runaground & Destiny Calling. There is more James than Brian Eno on this disc unlike "Laid" or "Pleased to meet you" which were heavily influenced by Eno. If you like the more upbeat James you've heard check this release out. A great selection for the car by the way, especially when driving at high speeds...

I saw James in a small club indulging quite a bit in the Wah-Wah experimentation music which was recorded at the same time as Laid, not more than a year after they opened for Neil Young's accoustical tour where they previewed some of Laid. Both shows were excellent (despite one of Neil's "fan's" complaints about Tim Booth's lack of vocal quality; LOL!), while at the same time completely different.

Whiplash does a wonderful job in melding these two experiences. The relatively 'tame' Laid music shows up (Tomorrow, Homeboy, Avalanche) with some of the electronic Wah Wah explosion I heard in the small club (GreenPeace, Go to the Bank, parts of Play Dead) and we get some additional Eno looping trance stylistics (Watering Hole, Blue Pastures). The end result is a whiplash of musical styles and vocal offerings that are alternatively heavy and light, hopeful and resigned, passive and angry.... quite an emotional rollercoaster.

Add to these the exceptional lyrics throughout --highlighted by the aching social commentary of "Lost a Friend" -- and you get a rare complete listening experience.

While U2 were fooling around with disco, facial hair, and over-produced feedback, James was crafting a record so cutting edge and modern that the finished product sounds nothing shy of amazing. It is not "Laid" but is most certainly James. Frontman Tim Booth (in men's clothing) and the rest of the ever-changing lineup have experimented with electronica, ambient, and dance, successfully incorperating all three into this collection of distinctively smart Brit-pop. Cheers to the "frequent interference" of Brian Eno and all the forward thinking, innovative forces within the band for keeping a sharp edge in a rather unforgiving market. Everything fits here, down to the album artwork. Listen to the stark urgency of "Tomorrow," the trippy daze of "Play Dead," and the anthemic "Avalanche" for a perfect sampling. It's a shame the band's exposure in the states is so minimal, save the "Laid" single, a dorm room classic. Most simply, this is the U2 album that "Pop" should have been. No inflated egos here, just a pure, unadulterated sonic barrage, both mesmerizing, lush, and beautiful ... without any handlebar moustaches.

As mentioned on many of these reviews Laid and Seven were indeed fantastic CD's full of a wide range of moving music and deep lyrics. However this CD is probably their best and most unrecognized of them all. Every song is its own masterpiece of great rhythms and insightful lyrics. The track Tomorrow is about saving a friend from suicide is a driving track that as strange as it sounds is a uplifting tune. Lost a friend the next track is deep and very meaningful touching the boundaries of what we perceive on TV and just how we accept the unacceptable because of its propaganda. Waltzing along probably their best song on the cd if you had to choose one is so true in all its observations on life. A meaningful flowing tune that just makes you feel good to be alive, very spiritual. Shes a star the 4th track is their hit from the CD very catchy tune sure to please on first listen.Driving message don't live in the shadows of others we are all stars. I could go through whole CD but will spare everyone. Finish with a few quickies, Avalanche awesome!!! about revolution, Go to the bank this tune is fun about consumerism and the shallowness of it.Blue pastures forget it all in the blue pastures a floating tune one of my fav's, great for relaxation. A must James CD to have in your collection I have bought it 3 times over the years.

This album is so core, James. If you have Laid, or one of the "Best of" albums ... you have finally grown up.
You have to own this.
The album cover, which smacks of sex and cheapness and rudeness and all of that that only James can weave into such smooth, moving tunes
that you will just put this on autoplay one day and escape from this world into one that is only James' world.
Wow.

While "Whiplash" is an amazing album and 1000 times better than the tripe they play on the radio, it's not James' best. It's too poppy and dancey for my taste, but the lyrics are still divine. 'Blue Pastures' is one of my favorite songs. However, if you're only going to buy one James album, well, they've just released a "Best of", already available in the UK and Canada, and to be releasd in the States June 30. Or, if you can't wait that long, "Laid" is one of their best albums , and just as readliy available as "Whiplash".

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.

James delivers with their CD "Whiplash"---this band has impressed me with their ability to write good music with fantastic lyrics! I don't have much to say except this CD is wonderful, and you must get your hands on it!

Drawing on U2's experimentation in the 1990s, "Whiplash" is an album of muted beats, dense & noisy soundscapes, and spectacularly contrasting widescreen rock. Songs like the driving "Tomorrow," "Waltzing Along, "She's A Star" (with it's glorious slide guitar) and "Avalanche" are among the best songs of James' career. But there is a lot of material that seems half-developed or just sort of average. While there is some fantastic, sweeping music on "Whiplash," James have done better overall albums.