EP... Jamie T - Magnolia Melancholia

It was a new dawn for Jamie T when 'Don't You Find' peered out from behind the shadows of a five year wait.

Six months on from his highly anticipated third album, 'Carry On The Grudge', and after few cobwebs settling; Jamie Treays has released a new EP. If anything was apparent about his third album it was that Treays has become a frustrated man, who's firmly stuck in corner of every room he sets foot in.

'Magnolia Melancholia' does exactly what it says; emitting the light and dark of a growingly complex personality. Take 'Don't You Find', which is brooding on the surface and marked a new chapter for Jamie's song-writing. It's approximately three minutes in though that this chapter comes to life. He spits almost inaudible abuse over elegant strings. It's these spouts of frantic episodes that cling on to the Jamie T of 2009.

Similar can be said in, 'Marilyn Monroe', the most upbeat on the EP and a track which could've walked its way onto 'Carry On The Grudge'. His wittering towards the end is poetic verbal diarrhoea which is reminiscent of the breakdown 'Rabbit Hole'.

Amongst the other tracks, covers, 'Mama Don't Smoke' and 'Bastards Of Young',  add little other than peeling back a few extra layers. 'Magnolia Melancholia' on the other hand is a lethargic heartbreak ballad that turns on itself with woozy cries of, "I guess I just miss my friend." Other track, 'Riverbed', is an Albarn-esque self-reflection which chugs along woefully to lyrics, "so if this river carries evil away, why do I shiver at mistakes I made?".

If this EP does anything it shows that any glimpse of blossoming magnolia in Jamie's life is quickly stunted by the release of pent up agitation. It's time someone took the weight off his shoulders that is long past its five year sell by date.

Jamie T - Magnolia Melancholia
Out of 10: 7/10

By Josh Shreeve (@JJShreeve)

Jamie t unveils video for next single 'Rabbit Hole'

The pop-art inspired video has been released ahead of the release of the single itself, due on 12th January 2015.

'Rabbit Hole' will also include an exclusive B-side track titled, 'Sychophant', available for pre-order here. It comes off the back of his third studio album, 'Carry On The Grudge', and his recently announced appearance at Reading and Leeds Festival next year.

Watch the video for 'Rabbit Hole' below:



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Live Review... Jamie T @ Manchester Academy, 07/11/14

When Jamie T announced his return this year, a glimpse of the almost fabled singer-songwriter became highly sought after. Despite being distant for half a decade, he re-emerged to fans as if he'd just nipped round the block and returned with a new band, new songs but still the same loveable chap with an equally as big bit between his teeth.

Much like his latest album, 'Carry On The Grudge', the crowd were eased into the show via, 'Limits Lie' and 'Don't You Find', coaxing people into a moody singalong. By the time Jamie orders them into a frenzied dance during 'Operation', there's limbs flying everywhere and wafts of beer, sweat and nostalgia around. 'Salvador' and new track, 'Rabbit Hole' are met by the same ruckus before being juxtaposed by the most beautiful and refined song of the night; 'Emily's Heart'.

Tracks from debut album, 'Panic Prevention', see Jamie and the dedicated members of the crowd grow in more confident sing-a-longs to songs 'Ike and Tina' and 'So Lonely Was The Ballad', which split up the fresher but less memorable tracks.

As for 2009's, 'Kings & Queens', you can't help but feel that some of it's finest fruits have been neglected. Those that are included though, 'Man's Machine' and 'Spider's Web', pick up the pace as the band hurtle towards the encore. By the time '368' clicks into play, Jamie's guitar is out of sight and he bounces around the stage with mic in hand like a riled up freestyler.

Naturally, the classics get the most love. 'If You Got The Money' ends the show with coarse throats looking to swap their pints of lager for lemsip; a sign that Jamie's tongue-twisting lyrics really are an art. Most people found out the hard way, trying their best to keep up with a memorable ending of 'ma-ma-ma-ma money, ma-ma money oh'.

It doesn't stop there though as he returns from the shadows alone to perform an almost undistinguishable solo of 'Calm Down Dearest' before 'Zombie' sparks a second-wind amongst the crowd. It sits almost perfectly alongside older gems, 'Sheila' and 'Sticks n Stones', to keep an aura of nostalgia not felt for most of the crowd since their angst ridden teenage years. For the newer fans, they've come at a much tamer time in Jamie's career, but his more delicate spindling of the guitar isn't far off the foul-mouthed songs we all fell in love with all those years ago.

By Joshua Shreeve (@JJShreeve)

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Album Review... Jamie T - 'Carry On The Grudge'

'Carry On The Grudge' is doing just what you'd expect after a five-year gruelling wait for another album from one of Britain's most upfront indie-poets. Half a decade on from his last album, and Jamie Treays, now a slightly more matured 28 year old, has barely budged; still a frustrated, angst ridden individual whose more refined view on life has produced an album worth waiting for.

Opening track, ‘Limits Lie’ is the re-awakening from the five-year long grudge, of which Jamie is about to lump onto his back again for another twelve track journey down some of London's bleakest streets, exposing more insecurities and grit than ever before. Lyrically, the album is undeniably Jamie T, but they expose a more decayed, self-loathing state; ‘I’m sweating in a carcass, I’ve given up on me’ is a more broken and deteriorated soul than the sprightly youth we’re used to. His song-writing too has delved much deeper beneath a potentially tormenting few years with comeback song, ‘Don’t You Find’. Creeping right out of a tattered, cigarette stained sofa, its brooding nature is far removed from merry days of ‘drinking under age’ and ‘lightweight pricks’. 

Having had rumours of his death circulating over recent years, it’s amusing or maybe essential that ‘Zombie’ should rekindle an aura not felt since 'Sticks 'n' Stones'. Although it reveals some of his poorer lyrics, it's able to resurrect the cheeky chappy within him, as if it'd never left him. The ashes still lingering around from his past two albums are evident too, particularly halfway through the record. Those unimpressed with Jamie’s more laid-back approach on parts of the album, will be more than sufficed with an almost familiar trio of tracks. 'Trouble' is where 'Kings and Queens' left off with quick wit, nonsense lyrics, ‘doop de doop, doop doop doop, it’s trouble’. He’s clearly not had trouble thinking of more catchy ditties which ‘Rabbit Hole’ also attains, leaving you dizzy in its bullish trails. Elsewhere the scratchy ending to ‘Peter’, a snarling track about Jamie’s filthy alter-ego, is almost parallel to the jittery climax of 2009’s ‘Castro Dies’. 

The tender moments are a step away from the upbeat anthems of Jamie's yesteryear but the wailing backing vocals, provided by his new band, are still about. 'Turn On The Light' and 'The Prophet' peel back the layers and deliver lullaby chorus’ befitting for Jamie’s more heartfelt tales. These tales of course, would not be complete without their characters. In 2007 it was Sheila and Stella, 2009, Emily and Jilly and now Jamie’s having a pop at Mary Lee and Marcus.

It’s an album which although slightly altered in its sound, still addresses the real people and situations of Jamie's blurry world. Five years was a long time to wait, but he must be praised for returning with a record that’s as realistic as his last and firmly establishes him back in the game.

Jamie T - 'Carry On The Grudge'
Out of 10 - 8/10

By Joshua Shreeve (@JJShreeve)

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