By James Keller
As with all live albums, common sense still applies.
If you like James, you’ll like Getting Away With It…Live. If you don’t particularly like James, nothing much will have changed. If you haven’t been exposed to James until now, what better way to get acquainted than hearing the band doing what they do best; performing.
To understand this album, you need to understand what James is all about. They’re a pop-rock band from England (Manchester to be exact), but they’re not quite Brit-pop. James’ lyrics are about God, life, or simply deep, gripping introspection. However, now-departed lead singer Tim Booth is neither a poet nor a preacher. Getting Away With It was recorded at Manchester Arena on Dec. 7, 2001, but it’s more than just a run-of-the-mill live albums other bands offer.
James is more than your average band and this is more than just your average live cut. Every song has something different than the standard album-fare, including Booth’s eerie ramblings between songs. And considering this was Booth’s last public performance with the band, this is more than just an average concert: it’s a milestone, a turning point and a marking post all in one.
Whatever direction or form James takes from here is anyone’s guess. But you can bet it won’t be your average fade–away we’ve seen so many times before.