Hey Ma
by James
  • Record Label: Decca
  • Release Date: Sep 16, 2008
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14

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  1. thelistener
    Sep 19, 2008
    7
    Great to have a new James release... Doesnt come close to Laid (which would be a 10 on my scale)... but is still quite good. The album seems to heavy on the horns at times.. Despite my score of 7, a must buy for any James fan.
  2. NM.
    Sep 18, 2008
    9
    A pure f*cking delight. Nothing more needs to be said. Great lyrics, great tunes, and genuinely enjoyable. The only qualm? The production is over-compressed. I'll fault the mastering for that.
  3. TomB.
    Sep 18, 2008
    8
    great to have these guys back, and a welcome return to form. hopefully they have a few more albums in them, with this lineup. their 90s output was almost second to none.
  4. SY.
    Sep 17, 2008
    9
    Possibly my favorite album of the year. I was not a James fan until this album. Stand-outs include "Whiteboy" and "Hey Ma". The album is a bit politically charged but I like the clever lyrics and the interesting instrumentation (such as muted trumpts, etc.).
  5. JorgeM.
    Sep 17, 2008
    9
    Fabulous, poetic, inspirational, epic.

Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. AllMusic
    80
    James do have more quirks in their sound and plenty of quirks in Booth, who is always willing to act like a fool if it is in service of the greater good. These are the things that make Hey Ma a welcome comeback even for those listeners who may never have been big James fans.
    Read full review
  2. musicOMH.com
    80
    Setting out their stall with the strength and affirmation of the birth song 'Bubbles,' seemingly inspired by the arrival of Booth's first son, James gather themselves with an impressively solid stature.
    Read full review
  3. Q Magazine
    60
    James has surprisingly reunited for this equally surprisingly strong comeback album. [May 2008, p.135]
See all critic reviews »