Sometimes you have to look back in order to go forward, and this is exactly what Adam James has managed to achieve with his latest single ‘Mad ‘Bout You’.
Looking to his influences, Adam’s latest track makes sure not to miss out any element along the way, proving that we’re able to draw on the past without getting trapped in it while still having all of the raw, around the edge grit of a garage rock single, it benefits from the clean production, without stripping away its character.
What feels particularly impressive about ‘Mad ‘Bout You’, particularly given its two-person performance is how far out and wide it sounds. The guitars feel warm with that classic buzz, with a rhythm section that drives the song forward with confidence. It actually has the immediacy of a live performance without ever sounding anything close to a finished piece of product, a balance often unachievable when compared to the finished studio version. As he explains, the single’s a “return to older sounds”.
Drawing on a past inspiration and placing a solid stamp of authority by combining it with recent experience in a highly successful and natural manner, the track comes off sounding familiar but not in an old-fashioned way. ‘Mad ‘Bout You’ also gives us an insightful view of changing perspectives where, with every new chapter, moving forward entails moving away.
This growth also really permeates the emotion on the track too; ‘Mad ‘Bout You’ allows us the reflective pauses that most songs do, without ever losing the overall momentum of the piece.
James finds an easy connection between that thoughtfulness and the melody, allowing the messages in ‘Mad ‘Bout You’ to shine through, rather than forcing them upon us in an emotional or saccharine fashion.
This song really highlights Adam James’ progression over the years too, spending some time writing his catalogue from Honeymoon Suite’s facilities in LA, as well as actively gigging across the live landscape and interacting on the LA music scene. The self-assurance of the writing and lack of overt production tells us all that we need to know in terms of James’ continued artistic development. I may have given you plenty, but don’t expect to hear any overstuffed, contemporary refrains, and more ‘Mad ‘Bout You’.
Adam doesn’t need to do any of those things and certainly doesn’t and hasn’t done this track and it will leave you longing for more; you can definitely look forward to more.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for publications in the US and former lead writer of Atop The Treehouse. Reviews music, film and TV shows for media aggregators.
