Be Opened by the Wonderful | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 9 June 2023 | |||
Studio | Blueprint, Manchester, England | |||
Length | 90:22 | |||
Label | Nothing but Love Music | |||
Producer | Brendan Williams | |||
James chronology | ||||
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Singles from Be Opened by the Wonderful | ||||
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Be Opened by the Wonderful is the 17th studio album by English rock band James, released through Nothing but Love Music on 9 June 2023. It contains orchestral reworkings of the band's songs from the Orca 22 orchestra led by Andra Vornici, also accompanied by the eight-person Manchester Inspirational Voices gospel choir, [2] along with the new song and lead single "Love Make a Fool". [1] Orca 22 will also accompany James on their 40th anniversary tour to support the record. [3] The album debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
XS Noize | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Natalie Royle of Louder Than War wrote that "James have resisted the more obvious commercial route of simply repackaging their biggest hits", calling it "not only a showcase of some amazing James songs, it also is a masterclass in song rearrangement by Joe Duddell". Royle remarked that "there are so many layers and details to these songs and I am still discovering more after numerous listens". [2] Iam Burn of XS Noize described it as "an alternative version of a greatest hits album – though there are several lesser-known tracks here too" and found that the presence of the orchestra and choir "allows James to find a new sound that works well". [4] Rob Johnson of Total Ntertainment felt that the album "defies definition" and "acts as a sonic compendium of the band's entire career", also commenting that "for a band celebrating their 40th anniversary, it is striking how relevant they still sound". [5]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Sometimes" | 6:03 |
2. | "Love Make a Fool" | 4:45 |
3. | "We're Gonna Miss You" | 4:32 |
4. | "Tomorrow" | 4:20 |
5. | "The Lake" | 5:16 |
6. | "She's a Star" | 3:54 |
7. | "Lookaway" | 3:58 |
8. | "Sit Down" | 4:37 |
9. | "Alaskan Pipeline" | 5:58 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Someone's Got It in for Me" | 4:34 |
2. | "Hey Ma" | 4:44 |
3. | "Hello" | 4:51 |
4. | "Beautiful Beaches" | 3:24 |
5. | "Why So Close" | 1:43 |
6. | "Medieval" | 4:14 |
7. | "Hymn from a Village" | 3:37 |
8. | "Say Something" | 4:54 |
9. | "Top of the World" | 4:53 |
10. | "Moving On" | 6:25 |
11. | "Laid" | 3:40 |
Total length: | 90:22 |
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
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Portuguese Albums (AFP) [6] | 38 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [7] | 2 |
UK Albums (OCC) [8] | 3 |
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