Category Archives: Album

Despite some similarities with earlier releases, James are no parody of their former selves. Instead, they have evolved into a more mature version. With the addition of Alper’s voice, there is a sustained feeling of being offered something new. As a result, ‘Yummy’ is without doubt the best album James have released since they reformed.

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“Yummy” is an album that is perfect for all James fans, whether they’ve been around since the beginning or are only just finding their music now. The group provide opportunities to reflect with raw, observational anecdotes that can settle any uneasiness in a wide spectrum of scenarios and subjects. Merging many musical influences and styles gives the album a unique feel, yet still the same storytelling and picture painting principles that make James who they are.

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For a band who’ve been going for over 40 years, James have certainly aged gracefully, and there’s no enduring sign here that they’ll ever slow down. Sparse attempts at experimentation may be less innovative than they’d hoped, but it can’t be denied that the Manchester pioneers shine when sticking to what they know best. Within tracks on Yummy, James effectively develop their longevity, signature sound, and style. The results are quite delicious indeed.

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There is no disguising the messages and warnings within this collection of songs, but it feels uplifting and brave, careful and deliberate and although the subject matter has touched all of us the foot tapping I still experienced when listening to these songs gave me hope and a wry smile I’m still wearing.

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Booth’s continued evolution as a vocalist is a key to James’ fiercely relevant songs, and their many lyrical takeaways. He is an honest songwriter – perhaps too much at times – but manages to express what a lot of his listeners feel whether they too are 63 or 36. By addressing personal struggles head on he can help raise the listener high with each affirmative chorus. With these many successes Yummy adds itself to the James canon as an album both for fans and newcomers, a triumph over prejudice and anxiety. Everyone is welcome here.

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Refusing to comply and always treading their own path, James has delivered an album to be proud of. Never standing still and always evolving, this is James at their very best.

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With love engendered at the album’s core, Yummy then sets out to help us endure, often appreciate, life’s many dilemmas. Life’s A Fucking Miracle, which Tim considers “one of the most joyful songs we’ve written in years, it could be a queer dance anthem” argues that the most mundane fishbowl existence should be seized and celebrated; and Better With You, a celestial disco tune and apocalypse romance, suggests that even global Armageddon and the subsequent post-human regeneration of the planet would be beautiful to behold with the right person and a good view.

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‘Yummy’ is an album which deals with several serious issues and is cheerful and musically uplifting at the same time. The lyrics are typical 2024 subjects which we can all relate to, but needs to be addressed by Tim Booth every now and then.

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With every release James showcase their innate ability to stir something heartening even when surrounded by darkness. Fans of the band are blessed by their current form and ‘Yummy’ is a delightful addition to their stunning back catalogue.

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So, James – same as they ever were, only better. Ageing beautifully, lyrically superior, tonally rich.

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All in all, this is a great record, one of the better in what has recently been a series of outstanding new music from James. Many of their contemporaries stopped trying years ago, James just get better and better!

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Brimming over with soaring melodies and toe-tapping rhythms, Yummy is like a poppier OK Computer.

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“I’ll avoid cliched use of the album’s title, as I am sure many other reviewers may well milk that to death. My closing thoughts borrow the title and chorus from the aforementioned James classic. “Oh sit down, Oh sit down, sit down next to me….” and have a listen to what’s currently playing loudly in the Morgan household, and then tell me this review is not accurate!”

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“From conspiracy theories to AI and the environment, Yummy is proof that James does not shy away from speculating on the most significant topics. Yummy is a traditional James album, littered with anthemic hits for the listener to sing along to, however, Alper’s vocals paired with the band’s creativity sonically lift the album, and makes it stand out amongst its predecessors. Booth’s introspective lyricism combined with his bandmates’ instrumentation makes for a stunning album.”

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Booth’s continued evolution as a vocalist is a key to James’ fiercely relevant songs, and their many lyrical takeaways. He is an honest songwriter – perhaps too much at times – but manages to express what a lot of his listeners feel whether they too are 63 or 36. By addressing personal struggles head on he can help raise the listener high with each affirmative chorus. With these many successes Yummy adds itself to the James canon as an album both for fans and newcomers, a triumph over prejudice and anxiety. Everyone is welcome here.

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It’s evident that with ‘Yummy’ that the band’s appetite for creating music remains unsated and it sees the band at their most creative and progressive, delivering an impressive and thought-provoking body of work that can easily be ranked as one of their best.

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With nine studio albums under their belt since they reunited in 2007, James are more prolific than ever and Yummy cements their place as one of the most comercially and aristically – and most loved – alternative bands of their era. Unafraid of the unknown, they continue soaring to new heights of beauty and inspiration and their refusal to conform to societies expectations as to what a band of their longitude should he doing is commendable. 

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The times we live in may get ever more depressing, but not even the impending apocalypse can stop James delivering the goods on this glistening, cathartic effort.

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The album is a stunning piece of work, capturing your attention from the very first song to the final one. It offers something fresh, engaging, and captivating throughout. This music is sure to appeal to all music enthusiasts, showcasing the growth and development of Booth and his band over the years. Just like their previous album, All the Colours of You, this album is a timeless addition to any record collection.

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Yummy is the sound of a band refusing to rest on their laurels, in love with their creative process and looking forward rather than backwards. James still possess the ability to produce the anthems with which they made their name, and Yummy has moments where they hit that sweet spot, but across the twelve songs here they’re searching for deeper connections, both internally within the band and with their audience. Their expansion to a nine-piece has opened up new possibilities, particularly vocally with Alper on board, and that allows them to make a James record that sounds like a James record, but not like one they’ve made before.

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James have often talked up their songwriting process, the chaotic way in which jams are distilled over time into songs and Pudding gives us an insider view of that for the first time in three decades. Best listened to without any preconceptions and expectations, it’s like discovering a secret diary and scrap book of ideas. Without the death of proper release singles and accompanying b-sides many of these songs would have evolved into those and some may have displaced tracks from Yummy, but in 2024 Pudding tantalises and teases what these songs might have become whilst standing in their own right as a fascinating peep behind the curtains.

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‘Yummy’ showcases a band that is firing on all cylinders musically, lyrically and vocally. Many of James’ contemporaries are showing signs of being past their prime, but Booth’s band of merrie men (and women) are still on an upward trajectory

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I looked for a variety of ways as to how to sum up this release but found that the band had said it all for me in one word `YUMMY`

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Confused by affairs of the heart? Angered by poisonous profiteering global corporations? Perhaps the relentless march of time and the ageing process have taken the wind out of your sails. Well, James feel your pain. And while the Manc indie rock legends might not have all the answers on their 18th studio album, they’re at least on hand to offer a consolatory arm around the shoulder.

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