JAMIE T - THE THEORY OF WHATEVER
15 years on from his debut album, Panic Prevention, Jamie T swaggers back onto the scene with The Theory of Whatever - 13 varied tracks that prove, even after all these years, the South London artist has still got plenty of life (and songs) left in him.
With former Maccabees guitarist Hugo White on production duties, the album moves from breezy tracks to songs which feel like a callback to the musicians early days as Treay’s unmistakable South London drawl bleeds through.
The album begins with ‘90s Cars’, a track which sparkles with synths and a nostalgic feel to it — a sign that, on this album, Jamie T has to do some looking back to move forward.
The sense of fun in the opening track is counteracted by ‘British Hell’ and ‘Sabre Tooth’, which tackle post-Brexit patriotism and proxy wars with his trademark swagger and wit.
Whilst he is known for tapping into contemporary issues, ballad-style track ‘Thankyou’ and ‘Talk Is Cheap’ show a different side to Jamie T, as these tracks feel like they’ve come from an extremely personal place.
Previous singles ‘St George’s Wharf Tower’ and ‘The Old Style Raiders’ are stand out tracks, dripping with hope and infectious indie hooks.
The Theory of Whatever is a breath of fresh air. Whilst Jamie T could’ve created an album full of indie tracks made for the crowds, sometimes the best albums are ones that come from the heart and this album is one of those.
Jen Rose
★★★★☆