James – Nothing But Love – The Definitive Best Of
UMC – Mercury
Vinyl | CD | DL
Available now here
Our Score
This isn’t just another greatest hits package — it’s a monumental celebration of James’ evolution, artistry, and enduring emotional power.
While many compilations offer nostalgia, this collection delivers something far richer: a deep, immersive journey through the band’s multi-decade career that feels both reflective and newly invigorated.
For long-time fans, this anthology strikes a profoundly resonant chord. It revisits the defining moments of James’ catalogue with a warmth and clarity that almost feels rediscovered. For new listeners — particularly those who discovered the band through their acclaimed recent releases — this album is the perfect introduction, offering a handpicked tour through the songs that shaped (and continue to shape) their remarkable legacy.
One of the standout features is the inclusion of the stunning Rough Trade version of Sit Down, a rendition so moving it sends shivers down the spine. This is James distilled to their emotional core: vulnerable yet uplifting, raw yet beautifully crafted.
Alongside the music, the release includes a thoughtfully designed 14-page booklet featuring commentary from the band themselves. These personal insights illuminate why certain songs were chosen and reveal intimate glimpses into the creative decisions behind them — a real gift for lovers of the band’s history and ethos.
Far from being a simple retrospective, the collection also introduces two brand-new songs produced by Leo Abrahams (who also helmed the band’s 2024 album Yummy). These tracks, Wake Up Superman and Hallelujah Anyhow are not throwaway additions but bold artistic statements that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with James’ finest work.
Wake Up Superman opens with an electrifying burst of funky guitar and harmonies from Chloe that glide effortlessly across the track – this is James firing on all cylinders. The driving bass, urgent rhythms, soaring trumpet lines, and pulsing synths intertwine without ever competing, creating a layered, cinematic soundscape. Lyrically, it’s a socially charged anthem that mixes poetic metaphor with direct critique — a song that confronts modern disillusionment, failed leadership, and the yearning for heroes who never arrive. The ‘Superman’ metaphor cleverly reflects society’s desire for salvation while underlining the truth that change requires collective awakening, not mythical rescuers. It’s both a protest song and a hopeful call to awareness — political, emotional, and unmistakably James.
Hallelujah Anyhow is a stunning reimagining of their earlier track Pieces of Gum. This version unfolds gently with stunning harmonies before the tempo swells, blossoming into a luminous soundscape shaped by delicate synths, a steady beat, and the band’s signature atmospheric layering. Abrahams’ production brings a textural richness that feels ethereal yet grounded. Thematically, it moves between feelings of being lost and consciously choosing hope — a reflection of the band’s revitalised creative spirit. Critics have already hailed it as instantly catchy, emotionally resonant, and destined to become a live favourite. Its global first play on BBC Radio 6 Music ignited fan excitement, with many calling it “criminal” if it doesn’t become a breakout radio moment.
The album’s production ensures every track, from classics to modern gems, maintains its original emotional warmth while benefiting from thoughtful balancing. The timeless hits, Sit Down, Laid, Come Home all sit seamlessly alongside more recent triumphs like Moving On, Nothing But Love, Beautiful Beaches, and Life’s A Fucking Miracle.
What becomes clear throughout is that James are in a creative renaissance. This isn’t a band trading on former glory — it’s a band celebrating the journey while confidently forging ahead. For newcomers, this collection is the perfect doorway into James’ world: emotionally intelligent, spiritually uplifting, and sonically adventurous. For devoted fans, it’s a reminder of everything that has made James so beloved — their ability to turn vulnerability into shared catharsis, experimentation into connection, and decades of experience into something that still feels alive, relevant, and profoundly human.
Nothing But Love – The Definitive Best Of is more than a compilation — it’s a beautifully curated anthology that captures James at their most essential. It is rich, uplifting, emotionally textured, and alive with the sincerity that has defined the band for over 40 years.
A celebration.
A reflection.
A reawakening.
An album that honours the past while embracing the future — and invites you to join in the journey.
James can be found at their website where you can also buy their album.
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Words by Natalie Royle, you can find her author profile here.
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