Along with the more overtly quirky Pavement, James sought to bring the eccentric folk-rock of the Incredible String Band into the alt-rock era, and did an especially fine job of it on this 1993 release. Still reeling from ... more »the U.K. chart success of their "Sit Down" single and Seven album, the Manchester veterans (who started out a decade earlier on their hometown Factory label) crafted this thoroughly accessible yet thoughtful collection. Especially infectious are "Sometimes," with its headlong strumming and chanted chorus, and the title track, with Tim Booth's vocals at their mannered best. Meanwhile, "Skindiving" finds the band venturing into the kind of experimental terrain that would later gain Radiohead enormous acclaim. Laid is a fine album from a chronically underrated band. --Bill Forman« less
Along with the more overtly quirky Pavement, James sought to bring the eccentric folk-rock of the Incredible String Band into the alt-rock era, and did an especially fine job of it on this 1993 release. Still reeling from the U.K. chart success of their "Sit Down" single and Seven album, the Manchester veterans (who started out a decade earlier on their hometown Factory label) crafted this thoroughly accessible yet thoughtful collection. Especially infectious are "Sometimes," with its headlong strumming and chanted chorus, and the title track, with Tim Booth's vocals at their mannered best. Meanwhile, "Skindiving" finds the band venturing into the kind of experimental terrain that would later gain Radiohead enormous acclaim. Laid is a fine album from a chronically underrated band. --Bill Forman
"Few albums I have encountered have the raw ability to consistently absorb listeners than James' Laid. Although receiving scant U.S. radio attention, this album intimately captures loneliness, fear, anger, frustration and reserved optimism. Two upbeat radio-hits, "Sometimes" and "Laid," complement the captivatingly mellow, hypnotically repetitious melodies of the rest of the album.
Booth's haunting vocal melodies and lyrical passion blend intensity and beauty in his exploration of themes criticizing Christianity (One of the Three; "I need proof before belief"), love and relationships (Five -O; "If we last forever, hope I'm the first to die"), and societal influence and expectations (Dream Thrum: "We made you feel the way you are is wrong: If you don't play the game, we'll make you change. I've changed ...").
In 12 of the 13 songs, James enhances absorbing moods, with the exception of the rather annoying, seemingly misplaced riff, Low Low Low, the only interruption to the album's otherwise soothing flow. It's the only track I am forced to skip in order to enjoy the grace of the other tracks. Despite this song, the album maintains a distinction unparalleled elsewhere, giving me one of the only musical collections consistently enjoyable for 14 or so years."
If it lasts forever....
K. Edelbrock | 11/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yes, they're underrated. Yes Tim Booth's voice is a gift from God. Yes, it took me 5 years to appreciate the beauty and brilliance of this album, and the astonishingly prolific band that produced it; but, hey, better late than never :-)From opening strains of "Out To Get You" to the last haunting lyric of "Skindiving", this album is a winner. Reviewers were right to call it one of the best albums of the 90s. There is not a bad track in this collection of 13 songs. Among my favorites are: "Sometimes" (I dare anyone to find me a better chorus in pop music today); "One Of The Three" (Dear God....); "Five-O" (hands down, my favorite song of ALL TIME); P.S. (Stunning...Breathtaking...Beautiful.); Everybody Knows (I just bet they do).The wonderful thing about James (and the thing I think attracts people to their music) is their uncanny ability to marry perfect melodies with thoughtful, emotionally resonant lyrics. "Laid" is a perfect example of what James have done so well throughout their career. The album hangs together on thematic threads of hope, love, loss and spirituality; but the musical arrangements are anything but saccharine (just listen to the gently loping, yet sinsister guitar and percussion in P.S.). James prove that it is still possible to make intelligent, catchy pop music.Also recommended: "The Best Of", "Pleased To Meet You""
Say Something.
Jason Stein | San Diego, CA United States | 03/21/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I remember briefly seeing the video for 1993's "Say Something" on MTV. It struck a nerve and I have become a devout James fan. Having all their cds, I believe Laid to be their best. It is more haunting, original and consistent than any of their other cds, save Whiplash in 1997. Brian Eno produced Laid and did it very well. Great songs like "Out To Get You", "Sometimes", "Dream Thrum", "One Of The Three", "Say Something", "P.S.", "Knuckle Too Far" and "Laid" make this cd shimmer. A mostly quiet cd, Laid has the lyrical pain and haunting music to become a classic. This is a must have for any rock collector."
Melancholia.
Angry Mofo | 07/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Let's get to the point - this is a wonderful album. In fact, it's very well one of the best albums I've ever heard, and I've heard quite a few. James themselves made no other albums of this calibre. This was their first collaboration with Brian Eno, and their first album after the sudden commercial success of Seven (which isn't nearly as good as Laid) - all the groundwork "laid" (ha! I make joke! funny!) for a landmark. Rather than hooks and pounding rhythms, this album concentrates on restraint and space, and it's all the better for it. The usual rock'n'roll percussion is conspicuously absent from most songs. What's present are eerie keyboard lines that build up out of nowhere and abruptly stop ("Knuckle Too Far"), hushed but persistent guitar lines ("P.S.", "Five-O"), soft acoustic guitars ("Lullaby"), violins ("Dream Thrum", "P.S."), and brief sounds that are almost like echoes but which, upon reflection, have a tendency to burn themselves into the brain ("Skindiving"). The one "loud" song here is also hardly conventional - rather than relying on riffs or basslines, "Sometimes" is a veritable cascade of guitars, much like the rain sung about in the song itself. The only really conventional song is "Low Low Low," whose pub-rock guitar line sounds oddly out of place given the remaining album."Sometimes" is probably the most immediate song here, given its indelible imagery. There are others, though. The title track is hilarious and melancholy at the same time, "Skindiving" is five minutes of surreal dreams, keyboard snatches and understated guitars that sounds like nothing on earth, "One of the Three" is an honest and simple meditation on religion and sacrifice. Then there is the album's emotional center. "Five-O" has a main guitar line reminiscent of old Spanish dance music and lyrics torn between fear and hope. Then "P.S." changes the tone to disappointment and features the album's best line ("you liar, you liar, all your words were just dust and moonshine") and a stunning ending (the guitars fade and the violin suddenly comes to prominence). Then there's "Everybody Knows", reminiscent of tango music and probably my favourite song on the album. The verses are those of a simple love song, the chorus is "but everybody knows you're fake, honey, everybody knows you're fake." Woohoo! Despondency masked with irony!So yes, I am very fond of this album, if you couldn't already tell. Not so concerning the band's other work, but just one great album is more than most bands make already."