JIM JAMES
Unveils Spotify Singles Session
Two songs with Resistance Revival Chorus premieres today
London headline solo show at The Roundhouse
on 29th January
Jim James has announced today’s premiere of his new Spotify Singles Sessions, streaming exclusively via Spotify. The session features two extraordinary tracks recorded with the activist singing collective Resistance Revival Chorus, including “Over and Over” (originally found on UNIFORM DISTORTION) and the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic, “What The World Needs Now Is Love.”
I look forward to the day when these songs are outdated,” says James, “and there is SO MUCH LOVE that we don’t need to sing that the world needs more of it, and we stop making the same mistakes over and over again! But until then we will keep singing…trying to bring the love. It was such an honor to sing these songs with @resistancerevivalchorus. Their power is undeniable and it just lifted my spirit so high to hear their beautiful voices reach for the heavens and I hope it lifts your spirit too.”
He has also announced news of a long–awaited solo show in January, performing at the Roundhouse as part of the In The Round series of intimate, seated shows. James’ appearance will be a career-spanning solo acoustic show – his first in this style – exploring songs stripped down, just voice and guitar. Date/info below: Tuesday 29th January – LONDON – Roundhouse tickets
James’ third solo album, UNIFORM DISTORTION was greeted with worldwide critical praise upon its arrival earlier this year. “With driving guitar riffs and catchy hooks combined with his signature soaring vocals,” wrote the Associated Press, James delivers an utterly engaging, hard-charging, straight-ahead record that almost feels like a throwback to a different era while also being very much current.” “UNIFORM DISTORTION is a collection of intentionally rough, loud songs,” noted NPR. “Backed by an efficient two-man rhythm section, there’s an emphasis on James’ guitar, which has a ragged, sometimes blaring sound…it seeks release in letting loose, in the pleasure music can give from creating wild, anarchic spaces within the framework of pop music song structures. There’s an art to summoning up chaos and an equal reward in keeping that chaos under control.” The Guardian declared the LP to be “a giddily powerful response to these troubled times…(James’) mix of musical joie de vivre and lyrical home truths prove fiendishly effective.” “UNIFORM DISTORTION carries an optimistic excitement,” wrote Consequence of Sound. “Its success lies in the honesty and purity that went into its creation.” “Jim James lets his hair down on fuzz- drenched fourth solo album,” declared MOJO in a four-starred lead review. “Going through the emotions never seemed so cool.” “(James) sounds like he’s having a blast,” raved Rolling Stone. “And you will too”
James made a number of live appearances surrounding the release of UNIFORM DISTORTION, including sold out full band shows in New York and Los Angeles, as well as high profile TV performances on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Recorded over three days at Los Angeles’s Eastwest Studios with GRAMMY® Award-winning producer/engineer Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War On Drugs), UNIFORM CLARITY arrived in October and swiftly earned critical attention of its own. “UNIFORM DISTORTION was meant to echo the chaos and cacophony of these tumultuous times while UNIFORM CLARITY is intended as a means of taking an opposite tack,” wrote Paste, “to provide some insight, and presumably some assurance as well. This time around, the 11 songs that graced the initial disc provide a serene counterpoint, one that coaxes the listener along and shares some sentiment along the way.” “Ultimately, UNIFORM CLARITY reiterates that immutable fact already demonstrated on UNIFORM DISTORTION: Jim James is a great songwriter,” declared Exclaim! “This revised version offers fans a chance to listen closely to those musical constructions, at their most skeletal, revealing an often wondrous gestation process.”
Critical acclaim for UNIFORM DISTORTION, released in June 2018 via ATO Records: “Jim James lets his hair down on fuzz–drenched fourth solo album… Going through the emotions never seemed so cool.” MOJO – 4 Stars **** (Album of the Month) “An unexpectedly playful album which rollicks between big-chorused bubblegum pop and crunching hard riffola… Yet lurking within the seemingly carefree racket lies a giddily powerful response to these troubled times… His mix of musical joie de vivre and lyrical home truths prove fiendishly effective.” The Guardian – 4 Stars **** “Uniform Distortion returns to the fuzzy guitars and thumping beats of early My Morning Jacket, giving the album a thrilling sense of urgency that never lets up.” Sunday Times “Heavy themes demand heavy tools, and James gets to wig out in earnest here, his overdriven guitar squealing through Just A Fool and You Get To Rome, which sounds like Elvis fronting a freaky glam–metal band… A carefree antidote to worrying times” Classic Rock – 8/10 “A joyously intense ride… An artist relishing the redemptive power of a guitar turned up to 11.” Shindig – 4 Stars **** “With massive, wooly reverb on the vocals and guitars, and a cheery preponderance of thunderous rock riffs, it’s a thrillingly noisy listen, brimming with joie de vivre.” Record Collector 4 Stars ****
“His self–deprecating humour and goofball vocals leaven these dark songs about mortality, confusion and alienation, lending both gravity to the staticky riffs and soaring choruses.” Uncut – 7/10
“This is a whole heap of fun… Opener Just A Fool rumbles in with a squalling Jack White–style bluesy guitar riff, You Get To Rome is a rollicking glam stomper, and there’s a melodic nod to Dreams on the Fleetwood Mac–esque No Secrets.” Long Live Vinyl – 8/10 “All fuzzy guitars, booming drums and distorted vocals, the My Morning Jacket supremo showcases his inner glam rocker.” Louder Than War 7/10 “James has rediscovered the joys of a distorted electric guitar, smashing through extremo rockers such as You Get To Rome, while his gift for aching melodies returns on the likes of Over And Over and Throwback.” Q
CONNECT:
JIMJAMES.COM
No Comments