Be Opened by the Wonderful

Last updated

Be Opened by the Wonderful
James - Be Opened by the Wonderful.png
Studio album by
Released9 June 2023 (2023-06-09)
StudioBlueprint, Manchester, England
Length90:22
Label Nothing but Love Music
Producer Brendan Williams
James chronology
All the Colours of You
(2021)
Be Opened by the Wonderful
(2023)
Yummy
(2024)
Singles from Be Opened by the Wonderful
  1. "Love Make a Fool"
    Released: 26 April 2023 [1]

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.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
XS NoizeStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]

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]

Track listing

Disc one
No.TitleLength
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
Disc two
No.TitleLength
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

Charts

Chart performance for Be Opened by the Wonderful
Chart (2023)Peak
position
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [6] 38
Scottish Albums (OCC) [7] 2
UK Albums (OCC) [8] 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10,000 Maniacs</span> American alternative rock band

10,000 Maniacs is an American alternative rock band that was founded in 1981. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs, and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four albums that charted in the top 50 in the US: In My Tribe (1987), Blind Man's Zoo (1989), Our Time in Eden (1992), and the live album MTV Unplugged (1993). After the recording but before the release of MTV Unplugged, original lead singer and songwriter Natalie Merchant left the band to pursue a solo career, while the remaining members continued the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James (band)</span> English rock band

James are an English rock band from Manchester, who were formed in 1982. They had popularity throughout the 1990s, with four top 10s on the UK Singles Chart and nine top 10s on the UK Albums Chart. The band's best-known singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", "She's a Star" and "Laid", which also became a hit on American college radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMF (band)</span> Alternative rock band

EMF are an English alternative rock band from Cinderford, Gloucestershire, who came to prominence at the beginning of the 1990s. During their initial eight-year run, from 1989 to 1997, the band released three studio albums before a hiatus. Their first single, "Unbelievable", reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, and was a number 1 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their debut album, Schubert Dip, went to number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. In April 2022, EMF released their first album of new material in 27 years, Go Go Sapiens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Help Falling in Love</span> 1961 single by Elvis Presley

"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the album Blue Hawaii (1961). It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss and published by Gladys Music, Inc. The melody is based on "Plaisir d'amour", a popular French love song composed in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini. The song was initially written from the perspective of a woman as "Can't Help Falling in Love with Him", which explains the first and third line ending on "in" and "sin" rather than words rhyming with "you".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pipes of Peace (song)</span> 1983 song by Paul McCartney

"Pipes of Peace" is a song written by English musician Paul McCartney and the title track on his 1983 album of the same name. It was released in December 1983 as a single and reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Charts for two weeks and No. 1 on the Irish Singles Chart for two weeks in January 1984.

"The Christmas Song" is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Draper (musician)</span> English musician (born 1970)

Paul Edward Draper is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer, formerly the frontman of the rock band Mansun.

Mari Hamada is a Japanese heavy metal and pop rock singer. Since her debut in 1983, Hamada has been known as the "Heavy Metal Queen" of Japan. Throughout her career, she has released 25 singles and 23 studio albums.

Daryl Bamonte is an English musician, music publisher, record label head and artist manager, known for working for Depeche Mode and the Cure. He is the owner of Archangelo Music, an Ambassador for Europe in Synch, a consultant for Schubert Music Europe, and the keyboardist in Permafrost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cum On Feel the Noize</span> 1973 single by Slade

"Cum On Feel the Noize" is a song by the English rock band Slade, which was released in 1973 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart, giving the band their fourth number one single, and remained in the charts for twelve weeks. The song was included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest. In a UK poll in 2015 it was voted 15th on the ITV special The Nation's Favourite 70s Number One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mama Weer All Crazee Now</span> 1972 single by Slade

"Mama Weer All Crazee Now" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1972 as the lead single from their third studio album Slayed? It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK, giving the band their third number one single, and remained in the charts for ten weeks. In the United States, the song reached No. 76.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give a Little Bit</span> 1977 single by Supertramp

"Give a Little Bit" is the opening song on Supertramp's 1977 album Even in the Quietest Moments... The song was released as a single that same year and became an international hit for the band, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. It was a chart hit in the band's native UK, reaching number 29 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was re-released in 1992 to raise funds for the ITV Telethon Charity event, but failed to chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday</span> 1973 Single by Wizzard

"I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" is a Christmas song recorded by British glam rock band Wizzard. It was first released in December 1973 and, as with most Wizzard songs, was written and produced by the band's frontman Roy Wood—formerly of The Move and a founding member of Electric Light Orchestra. Despite the song's strong, long-lasting popularity, it has reached no higher than number four on the UK Singles Chart, a position it occupied for four consecutive weeks from December 1973 to January 1974. The song was beaten to the 1973 Christmas Number 1 spot by Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody", which remained at the top of the charts for five weeks, from December 1973 to January 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fyfe Dangerfield</span> Musical artist

Fyfe Antony Dangerfield Hutchins is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the founding member of the indie rock band Guillemots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies</span> 2007 single by Biffy Clyro

"Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies" is the opening song on Scottish band Biffy Clyro's fourth album, Puzzle. It was released on 14 May 2007, as the second physical single from the album. The song itself, without any B-sides, was released as a digital download on 7 May 2007.

"Let There Be Love" is a popular song with music by Lionel Rand and lyrics by Ian Grant, published in 1940.

Outrage is a Japanese thrash metal band, formed in Nagoya in 1982. They made their debut in 1987 with a lineup of Yosuke Abe on guitar, Yoshihiro Yasui on bass, Shinya Tange on drums and Naoki Hashimoto on vocals. Hashimoto left the band in 1999, but the group continued as a three piece and he returned in 2007. With a career spanning over four decades, Outrage are one of few Japanese metal bands to have never disbanded or paused activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fratellis discography</span>

This is the discography of Scottish band The Fratellis. They have released 6 studio albums, 4 EPs, and 17 singles since their breakthrough in 2006. They won in the category Best British Breakthrough Act at the 2007 BRIT Awards.

<i>Human. :II: Nature.</i> 2020 studio album by Nightwish

Human. :II: Nature. is the ninth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 10 April 2020 by Nuclear Blast. It is the band's first double album, with the second CD complete with orchestral music rather than metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tell That Girl</span> 2017 single by Texas

"Tell That Girl" is a 2017 single released by Scottish alternative rock band Texas as the second single from their ninth studio album Jump on Board (2017). The song was released in March 2017 through PIAS Records and was written by Sharleen Spiteri, Johnny McElhone, Karen Overton, with McElhone serving as the songs producer.

References

  1. 1 2 "Manchester legends James share their new single 'Love Make a Fool'". XS Noize. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 Royle, Natalie (4 June 2023). "James: Be Opened by the Wonderful – album review". Louder Than War . Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  3. Patton, Alli (13 November 2022). "James to Release Double Album, Celebrate 40 Years with Tour". American Songwriter . Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 Burn, Iam (9 June 2023). "Album Review: James – Be Opened by the Wonderful". XS Noize. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  5. Johnson, Rob (9 June 2023). "James Be Opened by the Wonderful review". TotalNtertainment. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  6. "Portuguesecharts.com – James – Be Opened by the Wonderful". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  7. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  8. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 June 2023.