You could probably forgive Jamie T for his disappearing act back in 2010 after the release of the brilliant Carry On The Grudge last year, but we didn’t have the 5 year wait for new music this time, thankfully. Instead all we had to wait was a mere 6 months to get treated to 3 new tracks, 2 covers and the previously released ‘Don’t You Find’. The latter opens the EP Magnolia Melancholia up; it makes sense why Jamie chose this, as it was criminally overlooked on the album after the release of the classic Jamie T track ‘Zombie’, splitting opinions all over. Yet ‘Don’t You Find’ is a heart felt reminiscent tale and deserves far more attention. All of the new music from Jamie T is strong and proves that Jamie T as a songwriter, is one of the best in this country right now.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH9iFp62JfY&w=740&h=422]
First of the new tracks is ‘Marilyn Monroe’, it’s a quick paced aggressive song with the synths and guitar really making this track stand out. This is definitely a track that would have fitted perfectly on Carry On The Grudge and even name drops ‘Peter’ from the same album. Then we have the slow burning title track, which is an absolute triumph. It has Jamie singing in a snarling voice which fights with a tremendous guitar line that just straight away gets you grooving along. ‘Riverbed’ is the weakest of the new songs but is still a solid effort, it’s a slowed down Oasis like song, that just falls short. The covers are well worked as well, his cover of The Replacements’ ‘Bastards of Young’ is a beautiful slowed down and really moving song and works perfectly at the end of the EP. It might not be Jamie T’s greatest work but it is still a gorgeous listen and gives more reason to believe Jamie T is the best solo artist at the moment.
He’s on a hot streak and let’s hope he keeps his promise of not waiting to long to release his new album because I think I speak for most when I say I can’t go another 5 years without Jamie T.
Words by Callum McCormack
@mccormackcallum