W/e 06/12/24 - Bill Ryder-Jones, Charli XCX, Nilufer Yanya, Total Tommy, Red Hot Chili Peppers

A mediocre week, with perhaps the main point to note is we believe there are 153 better offerings this year than the music industries 2024 favourite.

Bill Ryder Jones is a winner though, flicking a fair few switches and having the TOTW.

Andy and Annette share the 😀. Mark’s Reading Festival line-up annoucement misery is compounded with a ☹️.

The Chillis didn’t fire up all of the class, and say hi to Blur and The Maccabees on the classics.

Guy

Bill Ryder-Jones – Tuneful and pleasant enough but it was incredibly slow and unmemorable as a result. Slightly perturbed by St Winifred’s School Choir piping up at points too – 6.5

Charli XCX – This is supposed to be an homage to raves and clubbing but I couldn’t really see it personally. I preferred her last album. Some decent tunes on it, but it just didn’t hang together as an album. – 6.2

Nilüfer Yanya – Never heard of her although she’s done 3 albums apparently. I listened to this after Charli and found it to be a much more interesting and consistent pop offering with a nice touch of soul to it. - 7

Total Tommy – The only album this week with a bit of oomph. Touches of Beabadoobee about it in places, some nice indie pop. Good to hear some drums and guitars and whilst the lyrics weren’t exactly Dylan-esque, they were interesting! – 7.1

Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Can’t say I’ve ever been a big fan of theirs but as a result I probably hadn’t given this album due diligence in the past. It’s actually pretty good and certainly has a very distinctive sound - not something you can say about every album we listen to. I can understand why it’s so highly regarded now, even if not totally in my wheelhouse – 7.9

TOTW – Total Tommy - Real

Andy

Bill Ryder Jones - Lots of melancholy but the lovely kind, most of this was quite delightful. I thought it had a bit of a Spiritualized/SFA sound to it at times and I liked the occasional young folks singing along. You can see why this is popping up in a lot of end of year lists 7.5

Charli XCX - I listened to this quite a lot in the summer, probably more than a straight middle aged man should, and really enjoyed it with the sun shining. It doesn't have quite the same effect at this miserable time of year but it's still pretty good fun and a couple of tracks are absolute stand outs. Will be a summertime staple for years to come I reckon 7.5

Nilüfer Yanya - I found this rather pleasant even if I wasn't entirely sure what she was going for 6.5

Total Tommy - Another winner form down under. She's got the poppy vocals of a Gracie Abrams but with a bit of guitar thrown in their too. So like Bebadoobee or Lush for our older readers 7

TotW - Sympathy is A Knife by Charli XCX

Red Hot Chili Peppers - I used to really love the red hots before they were famous and everything was fast and funky. As they've got more popular I've found them a bit more bloated and predictable, but still capable of throwing out occasional good ones, the title track and Scar Tissue stand out here. They'll always have a place in my heart without really loving them these days, although that might be down to Kiedis trying to fight Johnny Utah that time 6.5

Sam

Bill Ryder Jones : some of it was quite pleasant but it went on and on and more twee and annoying. 5.8

Charlie XCX: how does she rule the world with this auto tuned twaddle ? 4

Nilufer Yanya : nice and scuzzy in places and dull in others : 6.7

Total Tommy : there is a lot of this about but she stands above the rest with some punchy tunes . 7.3

TOTW :,REAL by Total Tommy

RHCP: With John Frusciante back on guitar they are back to their blistering best on this album . Choc full of bangers . Great voice . Loved it . 8.8

Phil

Bill Ryder-Jones 7

This album drifted by in a rather aimless fashion when I played it first. Listening again, I enjoyed it a lot more, finding it unsurprisingly reminiscent of Michael Head. Even if you didn’t know that Bill produced most of Head’s recent work, you’d guess it from the similarity of approach. These are strong melodies and arrangements, sung in a barely audible whisper. But it works.

Charlie XCX 4.5

Such was the level of distortion on the vocals on this album that it made me wonder if I was listening to an actual person. I have managed to avoid most of the current AI debate but this is exactly how I would expect a computer-generated artist to sound. Even the occasional catchy tune wasn’t enough to thaw my cold, cold heart.

Nilufer Yanya 7.5

I really enjoyed this album. It’s not often these days that you can listen to an unfamiliar artist and not have a clue what their influences are. It’s pop but with occasional veers into different territories – dream pop on Made out of memory, grunge on the title track and so on. As Guy points out, there’s soul in there – even a bit of bossa nova on the title track - and the arrangements are inspired. A pleasant surprise.

Total Tommy 6

In that hinterland between mainstream pop and indie, TT sounds like an artist that hasn’t decided who or what she wants to be. Listening to this alongside Nilufer Yanya makes its shortcomings all the more apparent. The final track, Shark attacks, was by some distance the best thing here. More of this, Tom!

TOTW – Nilufer Yanya – Call it love

Classic

Red Hot Chilli Peppers 7

I’d never listened to a full Peppers album before but I enjoyed this a lot. There was much more variety than I expected and it didn’t have the, I don’t know, complacency? that you’d expect from a band that was already a big deal when they made this record.

Simon

Bill Ryder-Jones: a melodic and wistful slow burner of album rather than a crowd-pleaser, but that might be to its strength in the long run - sure it would be a grower if I find time to give it a few more spins. 7.5

Charli XCX: well it's better than Dua Lipa's piss-poor effort earlier in the year, but still largely mediocre at best - for a supposed homage to club culture there's only a couple of tracks that even vaguely approach proper banger status. 5.5

Nilufer Yanya: my kids put me on to this when they played some of its highlights (Like I Say, Method Actor) in the car - the slower tracks don't stick in the memory quite as much but there are some interesting diversions into jazzy and soul stylings along the way. Suspect it would be another grower with more plays. 7.5

Total Tommy: another of the seemingly endless supply of queer girl pop albums around these days - musically this had a lot going for it, Sundays-ish but a bit feistier, however, none of these artists ever seem able to sing about anything other than the usual tedious relationship issues we've heard a million times before. 6.5

🌶️: apart from a passing interest when Blood Sugar Sex Magik came out I've never paid this lot much attention - this isn't going to turn me into a big fan but can't fault the songwriting and musicianship on display. 6.5

TotW: Bill Ryder-Jones - Nothing To Be Done

Jim

Bill Ryder Jones 5.5

Has a calming quality, but another for the drawer labelled 'obvious decent just not my bag'

Charlie XCX 6.5

It's OK, but that she’s miles ahead in the year end consolidation list is baffling. I’d like to judge on its own merit but since it’s been so lauded it feels fair to say it’s not even close to Billie on the pop numbers or Jamie for the (strangely described) club classics

Nilufer Yanya 6

Pleasant chilled pop although nothing stood out and I occasionally drifted off

total tommy 7

Initially thought we had another average indie-pop offering but this evolved just enough to rise above the masses.

TOTW: Charlie XCX - Von Dutch.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers 7

A mahoosive band I've never really warmed to, although I can’t pin down what they do, or don't do, that drives than reaction. This re-listen didn't solve the puzzle.

Adam

Bill Ryhder - pleasant enough folksy indie. Like a more chill Tom Odell. 6

Charli xcx - The brat queen herself putting out some high tempo tracks with a few more yello numbers. Can see why she reigned over the summer. Most very danceable after 2.5 lager beers. 6

Nilufer Yanya - rather enjoyed this, reminded my of Elder Island (well worth a listen if you haven’t). Floaty, ethereal numbers throughout. 7

Total tommy - follows in similar patterns to other recent indie female bands - some upbeat, some lower tempo reflective rock and a bit of a mix throughout. 7

TOTW - Nilufer Yanya - Keep on Dancing

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - great shout on this album, I’m a big fan of the stateside rockers - saw them relatively recently at the London Stadium. First. Tracks 1-4 and 6 all bangers. Would be interested in seeing their two follow up albums get onto the classics at some point, also great albums. 7

Mark

Bill Ryder-Jones - a lovely album, mix of Fabs scouse pop and wistful folk with a bit of a Flaming Lips / Spiritualized vibe in places . Was tremendous when I saw him play this album in full with a 20 piece orchestra at The Barbican a while back, beautiful stuff - 8

Charlie XCX - I came prepared to hate this and, yup, I hated it. Have taken against her since watching her poncing around miming at Reading a few years ago, and she's one of the standard bearers for a a strain of modern pop that I'm not wild about - 4

Nilufer Yanya - a bit drifty and hazy trip hop but space decent enough tunes such as Like I Say elevate it above the ordinary - 6

Total Tommy - unremarkable Beabadoobee lite (if that's even possible) - 5.5

TOTW - If Tomorrow Starts Without Me, by Bill Ryder-Jones

Annette

Bill Ryder-Jones: 6.5

Chatlie xcx: 6.5

Total Tommy: 8

Nilufer Yanya: 7

TOTW: Total Tommy - Adeline

Classic: RHCP - 7.5

Matt

Bill Ryder-Jones: Songs of anguish beautifully told starting low-key and building with some lovely orchestral flourishes (but an overused kid's choir verging on child labour) 7.7

Charlie XCX: Enjoyed the energy, and a few songs came close to being really good but somehow it just didn't click. 6.5

Total Tommy: More urgency and a rockier indie feel than their compadres this week but nothing that memorable. 6

Nilufer Yanya: I must be missing something because I found this just insipid. 5

TOTW: Bill Ryder-Jones, This can't go on

Erol

Bill Ryder-Jones - floaty and gentle but it failed to float my boat. St Winifred’s choir towards the end was a nice touch. 6

Charlie XCX - it’s on point for her generation but I really can’t see what all the fuss is about. Far too much autotune and the dance tracks aren’t even that good. I’d rather listen to Billie Eilish any day. 6

Total tommy - a nice serving of indie pop with a bit of welcome bite. 7

Nilufer Yanya - dreary, lacking in substance and utterly forgettable. Heart FM listeners are welcome to enjoy this but it’s not for me. 5

TOTW - Adeline, Total Tommy

The Chillis - their look is not my bag but their perfomance blew me away when I saw them in Italy. I’ve been a big fan ever since. A fantastic blend of exciting rock, angst and sadness. Scar Tissue and Otherside are spellbinding tracks. 9

Justin

Bill Ryder-Jones - this is a perfect indie folk album. The tunes are all just great and the majority could be totw. This album should have been much bigger 8

Charli xcx - it oozes attitude but I find the dance beats a bit too grating. It really is modern electric punk for young people 6

Total Tommy - just standard moody indie pop 5.5

Nilufer Yanya - sorry just a bit bland 5

Totw. Nothing to be done - Bill Ryder- Jones

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - good songs are really great but I don't like the overly funky ones with rap. Prefer the later albums 6.9