AMG Review of Gold Mother [UK Remastered]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

James completely revamped their lineup for Gold Mother, adding a violinist, a keyboardist, and a trumpeter to the band and attempting to write grand, ambitious arena rock that recalled U2 and the Waterboys. Although a few of the tracks captured the sprawling, epic splendor that James wished to achieve, they have difficulty writing convincing material, and they aren't nearly as interesting as they were when they concentrated on jangling folk-pop. [The 2002 British re-release includes tracks not found on the original: the "Skunk Weed Mix" of "Come Home" and live recordings of "Lose Control" and "Sit Down."]