Sunday, May 2, 2021

James - Living in Extraordinary Times (2018) | Review, Fun Facts & Trivia

James - Living in Extraordinary Times (2018) album front coverJames - Living in Extraordinary Times (2018) album back cover

James - Living in Extraordinary Times (2018)

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James - Living in Extraordinary Times

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🎵 James – Living in Extraordinary Times (2018)

Living in Extraordinary Times is the fifteenth studio album by James, released in 2018 via BMG Rights Management. The album continues the band’s prolific late-career run, delivering a politically charged and socially aware collection that blends modern production with classic James songwriting.

It reflects a world shaped by uncertainty, division, and rapid change, capturing the band’s response to contemporary global issues.


📀 Tracklist

  1. Hank
  2. Coming Home (Pt. 2)
  3. Leviathan
  4. Heads
  5. Moving On (Pt. 2)
  6. Better Than That
  7. Hope to Sleep
  8. Broken by the Hurt
  9. Extraordinary Times
  10. Picture of This Place

Deluxe editions include additional tracks such as “Many Faces,” “The White of Morning,” and “Safe to Land.”


🎙️ Album Credits

  • Vocals: Tim Booth
  • Bass: Jim Glennie
  • Guitar: Adrian Oxaal
  • Drums: Gavan Whelan
  • Keyboards: Mark Hunter
  • Producers: Charlie Andrew, Max Dingel & Tim Booth
  • Label: BMG Rights Management

🔍 Musical Style & Context

Living in Extraordinary Times merges anthemic alternative rock with modern electronic textures:

  • Driving rhythms and synth-heavy arrangements
  • Blend of energetic tracks and atmospheric compositions
  • Strong lyrical focus on politics, identity, and global instability
  • A balance between introspection and outward social commentary

The album captures James as a band still evolving, responding to the world with urgency and emotional clarity.


🎯 Fun Facts & Trivia

  • “Coming Home (Pt. 2)” revisits themes from earlier in the band’s catalog, creating a sense of continuity.
  • “Leviathan” stands out as one of the album’s most powerful and politically charged tracks.
  • The album was recorded during a period of intense political change globally, influencing its tone.
  • It reached the Top 10 in the UK Albums Chart, continuing their strong late-career performance.
  • The band experimented with new production collaborators, adding fresh perspectives to their sound.

🤯 Did You Know?

  • The album title reflects the idea of living through historically significant and turbulent times.
  • James have consistently used their platform to address social and political issues, and this album is one of their most direct statements.
  • “Better Than That” delivers a message of hope and resilience despite adversity.
  • The album blends personal reflection with global awareness, a hallmark of the band’s later work.
🎸 15-minute mashup video. 348 rockstars, 84 guitarists, 64 songs, 44 drummers, 1 mashup 🥁