Album Review: The Theory Of Whatever // Jamie T

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If you’ve made it this far on your musical journey without hearing the crooning vocals of ‘Stella’ or experiencing the infectious energy found veined throughout tracks such as ‘Sticks ‘N’ Stones’ or ‘If You Got The Money’, then you’ve truly been missing out.

Renowned for his insatiable indie-rock anthems, Jamie T has become a staple name on the scene ever since he burst out with debut record Panic Prevention in 2007 and spearheaded the ‘indie revival’. Fifteen years on, Jamie T is still producing music to the same high standard, and this is more than evident on his latest full-length offering The Theory Of Whatever.

Letting his b-sides release take a sidebar, this newest project stands as Jamie’s first album since 2016’s Trick that featured the likes of ‘Dragon Bones’ and ‘Tescoland’. This new record, however, sits in the middle ground of flitting between Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes reminiscent tracks such as the infectious ‘British Hell’ and the stripped-back bare nature of the subtle slow burner ‘St. George Wharf Tower’.

The Theory Of Whatever opens full throttle with the forcing instrumentation of ‘Cars’ and the immediate introduction of Jamie’s iconic vocal intonations that have become crucial to the indie scene. Acting as an apt ‘scene-setter’ for the rest of the record, delicate intonations paired with soaring harmonies lay atop thrumming guitar lines in a delightful twist on his classic sound.

The lead single, ‘The Old Style Raiders’ finds itself bridging the gap between Jamie’s ‘old’ high-octane rock style, and his newer, softer take found throughout his previous record. Breezy with hints of nostalgia, almost-orchestral detailing take the forefront as Jamie’s iconic tongue-tripping lyrics grab the reigns – lamenting on love and positivity.

With this cut, Jamie notes he found his ‘direction’, something he was struggling with in past releases; “I went home one day, and I found this track that I had recorded, pretty much fully finished. And I was really upset, because I realised that I’d spent the last six months asking other people to tell me if something was good. Then I heard this track and I just immediately knew I’d kind of found my path.”

‘British Hell’ makes its home steeped in riotous rock and borders on punk as Jamie declares “They call us walking corpses / unholy living dead / they want to lock us up / keep us in this British hell”, in a nod to the entrapment of conforming to societal norms. In complete sonic contrast, ‘The Terror Of Lambeth’ and ‘Keying Lamborghinis’ offer a softer approach to the record, whereas ‘St. George Wharf Tower’ (alongside ‘Talk Is Cheap’) takes its place as the ballad on the album, with folk-infused guitar lines and a stunning vocal performance.

Jumping over the halfway mark, ‘Between The Rocks’ sees the album make its sudden re-emergence into high-octane rock with “passed out masochists of cocaine” ringing over layered electric guitars intertwined with lush vocal harmonies and sudden key changes.

’50,000 Unmarked Bullets’ marks the end of Jamie T’s latest foray into music with a piano introduction that reads straight from an Oasis-ballad-playbook, whilst rising vocals lay parallel to recent Blossoms’ tunes.

At thirteen tracks long, Jamie T’s fifth studio album maintains his upbeat indie-rock flourishes from fifteen years ago, but with a more refined, mature edge.

UK Tour Dates:

10th November Newcastle          O2 City Hall

11th November  Birmingham      O2 Academy                   

12th November  Leeds                 O2 Academy

14th November  Glasgow            O2 Academy     

15th November  Sheffield            O2 Academy

17th November  Manchester      O2 Victoria Warehouse

18th November  London              Alexandra Palace

21st November   Cardiff               University Great Hall     

22nd November Portsmouth      Guildhall

Words by Lana Williams


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