Saw Jamie T again

Promise this will be my last jamie related post for a while. I'm even starting to bore myself. Saw him at Brixton Academy on Friday. This is my review written for the day job

The last time MTV caught Jamie T live we’d only heard one track from his second album Kings & Queens and didn’t realise it was set to be one of the most accomplished records of 2009.
Since then it’s had time to bed in with the thousands at Brixton Academy- these shows were originally scheduled for October before throat issues caused them to be moved.

Tonight Jamie and (his live band) The Pacemakers open with gentle B-side St Christopher as a prelude to the real business. Then it’s Man’s Machine- which typifies everything great about last year’s album. Opening with an obscure vocal sample and simple piano it ends with layers of raps, shouts and a near perfect chorus.

British Intelligence, 368 and Earth, Wind and Fire show that the South London boy takes influence not only from punk’s smartest writers but also baritone crooners and maverick rappers.



T’s next single Emily’s Heart shows that he can pull off a folk ballad too and also gets a decent sing-along from the hometown audience. Many of whom seem to be old school JT fans who appreciate early tracks like Northern Line and Diego as well as hits If You Got The Money and Sheila.

The indie icon- in skinny jeans and baggy white t-shirt- admits to being nervous but still saves his best recent tracks till the encore. Spider’s Web mutates joyfully from a ukulele ditty about “top bananas” and “in jokes about Americana” to a skittering drum n bass monster.

Then Sticks N Stones closes proceedings with sing-along hooks and lyrics that mean everything and nothing at the same time. Which just about sums up all the best pop music.

Top 10 Albums Of 2009 Finally

NUMBER ONE: Jamie T- Kings & Queens



Jamie T returned with an album better than his (excellent) debut in 09. And like the Wimbledon boy's first disc it took a few listens to get into.

But once it clicked there was much to discover in the raps, shouts, screams and hollers. With nods to the Beastie Boys, Billy Bragg, The Strokes and The Clash the musical mish mash worked on just about every song. From the UK hip hop of Castro Dies' to the forlorn folk song Emily's Heart.

With layers and layers and layers of stunning production and lyrics that mean nothing and everything at once Kings And Queens is near perfect.

And then in no particular order...

Raekwon- Only Built for Cuban Linx 2
Mos Def- The Ecstatic
Lily Allen- It's Not me, It's You
La Roux- La Roux
Speech Debelle- Speech Therapy
Bat For Lashes- Two Suns
Major Lazer- Guns Don't Kill People Lazers Do
Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca
The Maccabees- Wall Of Arms

My Gigs Of 2009

A TOP THREE (in no order)

Phoenix- Brixton Academy

For some reason I never thought I'd see the French band live but they absolutely smashed it down the road from my flat. I actually paid for this one too which I think makes it even better. Listen to my own personal Best Of Phoenix on Spotify here...

Radiohead- Reading

Had almost forgotten that Radiohead are the best band in the world until this. In Rainbows is their most complete album and the tracks from it sounded perfect here. Plus there was still room for National Anthem, Everything..., Idioteque, Paranoid Android and Street Spirit. Proper magical. Read a full review at my day job here...

Blur- Hyde Park

The sun shone, the Essex boys wore Fred Perry shirts and played nearly all their best songs in central London. It was truly astonishing if you ask me. Just a shame that new material seems highly unlikely. Buy the CD here...

Three others...

Jamie T @ Electric Ballroom
New song Spider’s Web features ukulele and rhymes Intifada, Robert Palmer and er, pyjamas and yet somehow still doesn’t sound forced, while the killer chorus reminded us of The Clash’s pop moments. On 368 there were echoing 80s style guitars and a rapid Beastie Boys-a-like rap, coupled with a gently sung hook, and while new single Sticks N’ Stones loses some of its breakbeat clarity live it still showcases the solo star’s knack for writing choruses - boasting two so good they put a lot of indie bands to shame. (review here)

Jay-Z @ Ally Pally
Referencing his 10 successive number one albums in the US the rapper thanks his loyal fans before mentioning the previous record holder. He tells the crowd: “Elvis has left the building!” Jay-Z definitely hasn’t. (Full review here)

Kraftwerk @ Bestival
Backed by superb visuals, the four Germans ran through their often sampled bleepy hits including Tour De France, Man Machine and Computer Love. (Full review here)

10 Best Tracks Of 2009

In my opinion (obviously)

Dirty Projectors- Stillness Is The Move-
Bat for Lashes- Daniel
Jamie T - Sticks n Stones
Lily Allen- Back To The Start
La Roux- In For The Kill (Skream Remix)
Phoenix- 1901
MSTRKRFT (+ John Legend)- Heartbreaker
Eminem/ Dre/ 50- Crack A Bottle
Mos Def- Auditorium
Major Lazer- Hold The Line

Hear these and other things I like here: GET STRAIGHT BEST OF 2009

More Jamie T

Pretty sure Kings and Queens is the best album of the year, i'll write a long appraisal soon. But first here's the new single. A highlight of the record, although in truth every track is fucking superb.

"Stone, glass, concrete and gravel/ All we got to keep us together."

Jamie T Remix

Get the Ben Bones re-jiggle of Jamie's Chaka Demus HERE.

Ben Bones is Jamie T's partner in crime- jointly responsible for his music and production.

Jamie T- Chaka Demus

Stiiiiil can't wait for the album Kings & Queens due next month.

Jamie T At Camden Electric Ballroom Review

WRITTEN FOR THE DAY JOB LAST WEEK...
Not many artists crowd-surf during their opening track- but at his London comeback gig Jamie T was quick to clamber on top of the devoted audience.
A rowdy show from the start, by the second song MTV was covered in beer, and by the Wimbledon boy’s sixth track there was a fight breaking out at the bar.

Up onstage JT and his Pacemakers debuted new tracks from his forthcoming second album Kings And Queens and ran through the finest moments of debut Panic Prevention.

New song Spider’s Web features ukulele and rhymes Intifada, Robert Palmer and er, pyjamas and yet somehow still doesn’t sound forced, while the killer chorus reminded us of The Clash’s pop moments.

On 368 there were echoing 80s style guitars and a rapid Beastie Boys-a-like rap, coupled with a gently sung hook, and while new single Sticks N’ Stones loses some of its breakbeat clarity live it still showcases the solo star’s knack for writing choruses - boasting two so good they put a lot of indie bands to shame. (WATCH THE VIDEO HERE)

Salavador and If You Got The Money now sound anthemic but still unexpected- thanks to Jamie’s twisting stream of consciousness lyrics. Panic Prevention highlight Ike And Tina is given a punk revamp while set closer Sheila is just perfect pop.

It was hard not to smile when Kappa tracksuited Jamie played Calm Down Dearest, prompting the previously testosterone heavy crowd to suddenly start hugging. And If you’re heading down to Glastonbury this weekend the returning Mr T is certainly worth chucking a beer and having a cuddle to.

Jamie T- Sticks 'N' Stones

This is one of the best singles of the year so far in my humble opinion. A bastard cousin of Ike & Tina from Jamie's debut Panic Prevention. It's out June 28 and hopefully bodes well for his second album.



"When there's no one left to fight/ boys like him don't shine so bright/ soon as I see the dust settle/ he's out on the town trying to find trouble."

Jamie T Returns

I remember arguing with someone at the end of 2007 that Panic Prevention wasn't one of the albums of the year. But it was. I just hadn't realised yet. The disc was slow-burning but rewarded repeated listens and I seem to listen to Ike and Tina once a week.

Fire Fire is the first taste of his new album. It's noticeabley heavier and quite rough and ready. I'm feeling the bassline. Although this track might be polished more on the album I like that Jamie is still DIY and hasn't called in Paul Epworth, Jacknife Lee or some other indie super-producer.

Get a low-fi demo of the track at his Myspace