My Method Actor is the third album by English singer Nilüfer Yanya, released on 13 September 2024 through Ninja Tune.[1] It is Yanya's first album on the label, and follows her 2022 album Painless.[2] The album was preceded by the singles "Like I Say (I Runaway)", "Method Actor", "Call It Love", "Mutations", "Made Out Of Memory", and "Just A Western".[3]
| My Method Actor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 13 September 2024 | |||
| Studio | Echo Zoo | |||
| Length | 44:13 | |||
| Label | Ninja Tune | |||
| Producer | Will Archer | |||
| Nilüfer Yanya chronology | ||||
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| Singles from My Method Actor | ||||
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Critical reception
editMy Method Actor was met with widespread acclaim reviews from critics.[4] Matthew Schnipper of Pitchfork notes that "On her third and best album, My Method Actor, she’s matured, found herself, chilled out—whatever you want to call it, it’s made her music more triumphant, less nervous. It’s an album that has the feel of everyday luxury, a collection of songs so assured that they feel like they always existed, and Yanya simply plucked them out of the air to give to you." John Amen of The Line of Best Fit wrote, "If Painless exudes the magic of an artist discovering new plateaus, My Method Actor is a refinement of those now integrated proclivities".[5]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 84/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[7] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[8] |
| NME | [9] |
| Pitchfork | 8.5/10[10] |
| Uncut | 8/10[11] |
Background and recording
editYanya worked on the album with English record producer Wilma Archer, and wrote and recorded the album in London, Eastbourne, and Wales. Yanya called the album the "most intense [...] in that respect. Because it's only been us two. We didn't let anyone else into the bubble." The album centres on the theme of "entering a transition between one part of life into another".[12]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Nilüfer Yanya and Will Archer.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Keep on Dancing" | 2:08 |
| 2. | "Like I Say (I Runaway)" | 2:57 |
| 3. | "Method Actor" | 3:51 |
| 4. | "Binding" | 5:16 |
| 5. | "Mutations" | 4:16 |
| 6. | "Ready for Sun (Touch)" | 5:33 |
| 7. | "Call It Love" | 4:53 |
| 8. | "Faith's Late" | 4:49 |
| 9. | "Made Out of Memory" | 3:34 |
| 10. | "Just a Western" | 4:29 |
| 11. | "Wingspan" | 2:27 |
| Total length: | 44:13 | |
Personnel
edit- Nilüfer Yanya – lead vocals, design
- Will Archer – production, electric guitar (all tracks); acoustic guitar (tracks 1–7), programming (1, 4), keyboards (1, 9), bass guitar (2, 3), backing vocals (2, 6–8, 10, 11), piano (3, 4, 6, 7), baritone guitar (3, 5), drums (5–7, 9, 10), synthesizer (7, 9), classical guitar (8, 10), field recording (11)
- Matt Colton – mastering, lacquer cut
- Nathan Boddy – mixing
- Ellis Dupuy – drums (track 3)
- Joe Harvey-Whyte – pedal steel guitar (tracks 3–5, 9)
- Clíona Ní Choileáin – cello (tracks 5, 7)
- Dave Lynch – additional vocal engineering (tracks 1–9), drum engineering (3)
- Molly Daniel – photography
- Polly Mercher – make-up, hair
- Tess Herbet – styling
- Jenna Coombs – set styling
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] | 109 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[14] | 11 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[15] | 53 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[16] | 1 |
References
edit- ^ Murray, Robin (10 June 2024). "Nilüfer Yanya Announces New Album My Method Actor". Clash. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Lapierre, Megan (10 June 2024). "Nilüfer Yanya Announces Third Album My Method Actor". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Torres, Eric (10 June 2024). "Nilüfer Yanya Announces New Album My Method Actor, Shares Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ a b "My Method Actor by Nilüfer Yanya Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ "Nilüfer Yanya: My Method Actor Review - method inspires | Indie". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ Donelson, Marcy. "My Method Actor – Nilüfer Yanya". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Piekarski, Tom (13 September 2024). "Nilüfer Yanya Is Caught in a Thrilling Stasis on 'My Method Actor'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ Amen, John (13 September 2024). "Nilüfer Yanya blends inspiration and method on My Method Actor". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ Mylrea, Hannah (13 September 2024). "Nilüfer Yanya – 'My Method Actor' review: carefully considered, creative songwriting". NME. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Schnipper, Matthew (18 September 2024). "Nilüfer Yanya: My Method Actor". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Jason (September 2024). "Nilüfer Yanya: My Method Actor". Uncut (299): 36.
- ^ Fu, Eddie (10 June 2024). "Nilüfer Yanya Announces New Album My Method Actor". Consequence. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Nilüfer Yanya – My Method Actor" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
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