Stutter - James

....but not all debut albums can be inspiring. Some are just plain difficult, awkward and a little disappointing, like this debut from James. Anyone who arrived at this album from the more stadium friendly later albums would have gotten a shock. I know I did.

Gone are the indie anthems and sing-a-long choruses. In their place are spiky folk sings with chaos at their core. Gone are the soaring lyrics. These are replaced by obscure imagery about earwigs eating you earwax and other such delights.

It's a tough listen. But it's not all bad - the albums masterpiece is the much more palatable 'Johnny Yen'. Still a firm favourite with modern day fans. And then there is the beautiful ballad 'Really Hard'. Or at least it would've been if the production had been up to it.

But from small acorns James did grow and within four years they were selling out the G-Mex and a year or two later playing at Alton Towers. Ladies and gentlemen here's my disease, give me a standing ovation and your sympathy......