Chutes Too Narrow was recorded in James' basement home studio, with later mixing assistance from Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, David Cross, Les Savy Fav, etc.). And, with 10 songs, clocking in at just over 30 minutes, Chutes Too Narrow is a brief yet entirely scintillating glimpse at chiming, reflective and perfectly skewed pop innovation.
Tracklist:
1 Kissing the Lipless
2 Mine's Not a High Horse
3 So Says I
4 Young Pilgrims
5 Saint Simon
6 Fighting in a Sack
7 Pink Bullets
8 Turn a Square
9 Gone for Good
10 Those to Come
It was released to widespread acclaim in 2003, garnering Pitchfork's Best New Music, four stars from Rolling Stone, and raves from the New York Times, MOJO, the Village Voice, SPIN, and tons more. It subsequently made best-of-the-decade lists from The AV Club, NME, Paste, Pitchfork, and Uncut.
