Laid Back

James' The Morning After the Night Before

by M.J. Fine

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For a band that goes by a single man's name, James has quite a few sides. Not least is the Manchester septet's reputation on either side of the Atlantic; beloved in their native England, where they've scored five gold records and a platinum greatest-hits collection, they're somewhat of a one-hit wonder in the U.S.

Two sides are on display on their latest effort, the double-disc The Morning After the Night Before (Mercury). For the boisterous, synth-happy Night, each member contributed separately to an FTP site, with producer Lee "Muddy" Baker putting everything together. All of Morning — a decidedly sadder, gentler affair — was recorded in one room in a five-day span. Both approaches pay off; it just depends whether you're in the mood for dressed-up self-scrutiny or stripped-down suffering.

In 1993, with four full-lengths behind them, James and Brian Eno resolved to record two albums at once: the structured Laid, which would peak at No. 72 in the U.S., and the improvisational Wah Wah, which evaporated upon release. Laid 's best remembered for its exuberant title track, a giddy, finger-pointing take on a dysfunctional relationship. "This bed is on fire with passionate love/ The neighbors complain about the noises above," Tim Booth belts over a propulsive beat, "But she only comes when she's on top." Thus set in motion, the song hurtles forth for two-and-a-half minutes and climaxes with Booth swooning the chorus in an unearthly falsetto.

One of the chief perils of having such a radio-friendly single, in those days, was that hundreds of thousands of people ran out to buy the album — it was certified gold 14 months after it was released — and shelved it as soon as they realized the single was completely unrepresentative.

But here's the thing: As great a pop gem as "Laid" is, the rest is nearly flawless. From the yearning twang of "Out to Get You," to the spiritual crisis "One of the Three," to the lovesick "Five-O," to the shimmery, soaring "Skindiving," Laid unspools one magnificent, moody moment after another. It's not a parade of hits, but it's James' best side.

(m_fine@citypaper.net)

James plays the Troc Sept. 24.