Following Jamie Treay’s very successful comeback album,
after 5 years; is the new EP ‘Magnolia Melancholia’. This includes ‘Don’t You Find’
off the new album Carry on the Grudge and new tracks such as ‘Marilyn Monroe’, ‘Magnolia
Melancholia’ & ‘Riverbed’. However this EP also includes unique covers of the
two tracks; ‘Mama Don’t Smoke’ and ‘Bastards of Young’. As you can tell from the title of the EP,
this is not exactly going to be the most uplifting EP; however the title is
rather odd as magnolia is a flower with a particular shade of pink, and melancholia
represents deep sadness and severe depression; as flowers represent beauty the
title is portraying a very big contrast.
‘Don’t you find’ is the first track on the EP, and the
second track on the album. I have written an extended review on this track
already, on the album review on my blog –
However, this track is one of my favourite tracks off the
album as it is such a relatable song.
The second track on the EP is one of Treay’s new songs and it
is named ‘Marilyn Monroe’ like some of Treay’s old work, the track has a very
upbeat atmosphere; with a constant rhythm throughout. This song does not have
any notorious Jamie T rapping in either, it is a lot like his new album; a lot
more singing than expected. The addictive chorus goes as follows;
“Well I know nothing; I see no nothing at all. When the beat
of the drum gets you down gets you back up…”
The only relation that I can identify which is linked to
Marilyn Monroe in the whole track is when Treay mentions;
“Well it’s just like the movies…”
As obviously, Marilyn Monroe was a very well-known actress in
the 1950’s/1960’s due to her sexual prowess, which is probably where the ‘Magnolia’
in the EP title has come from as she was a symbol of beauty, much like a
flower.
‘Mama don’t smoke’ is the third track on the EP which is a
cover from the 90’s band ‘Bran Van 3000’. From start to finish of the song it is
very soft and subtle with an acoustic entrance, accompanied by Treay’s quiet
vocals. This track is only short with only 1 minute and 45 seconds to it;
however it remains very effective and distinctive on the EP. With its short,
repetitive verses and chorus’ this song is hands down my favourite track on the
EP, the song basically consists of;
“Mama don’t smoke that much dope, don’t you worry about me?
I only get high about twice a day; it helps to keep my blues away.”
The simplicity of the song flatters the EP as many of Treay’s
songs are fully packed with adventurous and intriguing chorus’ and long
intricate verses, however this track just repeats the same lines over and over again;
whilst in the meantime still allowing Treay to keep his reputation for catchy
chorus lines, even if it is not his own written song.
The fourth track on this exceptional EP is in fact the EP
title ‘Magnolia Melancholia’ this track comes straight in with confrontational
vocals of;
“Nice to meet you boy, I know your momma knows; I fell in
love with her, seven thousand summers ago.”
As I related the title to beauty and depression, the chorus
explains as to why he chose the title as it is related to love. The beauty
perhaps being the woman that he fell in love with; ‘magnolia’ being a pink flower
represents that the person is female, as pink is related to femininity and the beauty
relates to the appearance of the woman. And obviously the 'melancholia' comes
from the many side effects of love, like the negative demeanour which also
comes with love and heart-break such as depression.
“Magnolia melan-call-it-love, magnolia melancholia, magnolia
melan-call-it-love, magnolia melancholia.”
‘Riverbed’ is the last new track on the EP. The song enters
with an acoustic instrumental and then it starts to pick up a bit more,
gradually introducing the drums. The track sounds rather innocent until you
hear the dark and meaningful lyrics;
“Down by the river, saw the preacher rape. Down by the
river, saw power take. And it was down by the river you know the cause was to
break, and that no man speaks for God.”
I think the river started off as a good memory and perhaps a
happy place for Treay, as the start of the song said;
“Riverbed be soft, be a soft landing”
Then as he got older he became more aware of what went on,
and the river flooded him with all of the negative things that have happened to
him and the unfortunate events that have taken place throughout his life;
“So if this river carries evil away, why do I shiver at
mistakes I’ve made? I guess this river will always stay running through my
veins.”
The EP closes off with ‘Bastards of Young’ which is a cover
from The Replacements. This is a song being thankful to how the times have
changed, even though they are still unsatisfactory.
“Income tax deduction, what a hell of a function. It beats
pickin’ cotton and waitin’ to be forgotten.”
However certain aspects of modern day have not changed from history
as;
“We are the sons of no one, bastards of young. Not the
daughters and the sons.”
This gloomy contrast seals the EP nicely, and on a low-key
atmosphere.
In conclusion I think this EP speaks for itself really. It definitely
represents melancholia, but the choices of songs were picked very wisely as they
all have a relation to each-other. I would definitely recommend that you give
it a listen if you have not already.
10/10
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