http://musicblog89.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/jamie-t-power-over-men-single-review.html
Jamie T has made an astonishing come back after his 5 years absence from the music industry, he has released 2 new albums and a new EP in this last year. His third album 'Carry On The Grudge' (2015) did manage to impress me and even though it was not as rage-fuelled and political as his other two albums, it is a more vocal-based album which focuses on his singing and it is different from his past 2 albums and several EP's; which I liked. You can read my review of Jamie T's 2015 album; 'Carry On The Grudge' here;
http://musicblog89.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/jamie-t-carry-on-grudge-album-review.html
Jamie Treay; most commonly known as Jamie T released a new album last month called 'Trick' it was released on the 2nd of September 2016, but it did not have as big of a hype as I had hoped to see... The album opens up with a track called 'Tinfoil Boy' which was one of the teaser tracks that Treay released before the album; on the 30th of June 2016. The introduction is very eerie, with brief chit-chat in the background followed by a laugh, it has quite a rock vibe to it which is very out of reach for an artist like Jamie T as he is more alternative/hip-hop based artist. In an interview Treay explained that this track was heavily influenced by Rage Against The Machine; hence the rock-feel. Due to the heavy beats on the instrumental I can almost feel myself getting swallowed into a mosh-pit this Monday... Treay spills out a very controversial line which a lot of people could portray in many different ways;
"Swallow down to get it out, it's like the key to set you free from all the mess and stress I've found."
What has he swallowed? A drink? A pill? A tablet? Many questions are to be answered for this line. Substance abuse springs to mind as recreational drugs and alcohol are known substances to relieve stress; however he could also be talking about prescription drugs like anti-depressants for example. Anyhow the next track is called 'Drone Strike' and it has a very electro-feel to begin with; but when Treay breaks through and he begins to rap he re-kindles that well renowned British hip-hop
side to himself that we all LOVE! Panic Prevention will spring back to mind if you're a big fan of Treay. 'Power Over Men' is the third song on the album; the one in which I reviewed a few weeks ago. This track sounds like a song that could have been added to his last album 'Carry On The Grudge' as it is more singing based than rap. On the other hand 'Power Over Men' is still a brilliant addition to this album as it shows his versatility as an artist - the song is basically about a dominatrix who essentially has 'Power Over Men' due to her sexual female prowess.
The odd titled track 'Tescoland' is next, and the instrumental reminds me a bit like Circa Waves and the way Treay sings the song.. Nonetheless it still has Treays trademark on it, as you could still tell that it was him singing. This track is rather confusing as the instrumental is very summery and happy meanwhile the actual lyrics are rather dark and unfortunately the track itself overshadows the lyrics; therefore the instrumental distracts fans away from the actual message that Treay was trying to portray.
"Who am I kidding man, I love to hate. Love to sail away like a rolling stone."
Track 5 is called 'Police Tapes' and this is a rather controversial song as Jamie T expresses his political views, much like he did back on his first album; 'Panic Prevention'. My favourite part of the track is this part;
"While the politicians patronise, disguise the right to televise. The truth, be it - the news it proves that every channel's satirised in colour. Speak in black and white, tell me that there's good and evil. All I really see's complicity, the dumb fucks call it legal."
'Dragon Bones' is the following track and it is mid-way through the album at number 6. Immediately I am interested, it just felt like it was going to be a really catchy song. The lyrics are rather intense but I never expect anything less from Jamie T. This track is full of synths and synchronizing, rhythmic drums alongside Treays splendid cockney singing voice. Now the next track has to be one of my favourites off the album and it is called 'Joan Of Arc'. Joan Of Arc is very heavily influenced by the Arctic Monkeys, but it works and I love it! Reminisces me back to the release of 'AM' and 'One For The Road', very indie rock and Treay includes lines like this that make no sense but just sound incredibly therapeutic for some unknown reason...
"Cigarettes taste best when they taste like daydreams."
This track will appeal most to females I say, as it is mainly just about boys fucking you and then fucking you off..
"Funny how you never give a fuck when you're 20, but she was alone then and it still makes her mad how the boys used to lead her on just to get in her pants."
'Solomon Eagle' is a little bit eerie after the intro and it is another hip-hop/rap track on the album. Yet again it is very lyrics based like the majority of Treays tracks. You can tell from this song that Treay has a lot of trapped emotion and anger inside of himself that he must simply let out and he does that through the art of songwriting.
"It's not the devil pulling you down, this retribution comes from above - This is God, this is God giving up on us."
'Robin Hood' enters with an upbeat, catchy guitar intro which just makes you want to get up and dance! This track is basically about a boy who lives on a council estate and is working a dead end job at a shopping centre, but he has big ambitions of being like Robin Hood. Verse 3 is my favourite, and it goes as followed;
"And I'll steal from the rich. and I'll give to the poor. I'll stop the police from knocking down our door. I'll steal it all, then steal some more and I'll never end up behind the jail guitar doors."
'Sign Of The Times' is the tenth track on the album and it has a very melancholic acoustic guitar intro. From the first note, I fell in love. This track is a complete paradox from every other song on the album. As Treay weeps through the chorus in misery and upset as he drowns his way through near enough every line.
"But I wish I'd been a little more exceptional, and I wish I'd been a little unconventional. But I was not enough, no I'm not enough."
Treay pours his big heart out and you can really sense his emotions through this track, it is such a sad song, but it is genius.
The second to last track on the album is called 'Crossfire Love' and yet again it opens with a melancholic acoustic guitar intro, but Treay raps as well as sings his way through the track. This is a very intimate song about Treay's life and about when his parents got ill; and as a result he took a break from the music industry as he ended up in a very bad place mentally.
"My heart sunk, and I drunk and I understand it's hard being rich in a poor mans world."
The closing track of the album is called 'Self Esteem' and this follows the chain of melancholic acoustic guitars opening up the songs, this track is about someone who has been 'friend-zoned' and constantly puts themselves down and reminds themselves of their low 'self esteem'. Not necessarily the best track on the album and I don't think that this is the right song to close the album off with, I would have perhaps preferred 'Crossfire Love' to have closed off the album as it is a nice song and finishes off the album splendidly as you learn a bit more about what he's been through these past few years whilst he took a break away from the music industry.
In conclusion; the album was brilliant - it is a very eclectic album, and it opens your eyes up to see what a versatile artist Jamie T really is. This album was a reflection of all the other three albums but put in to one, a good range of songs and I understand why the 3 acoustics were added on the end because it sort of fades the album out a bit more... The tracks that stood out the most for me would have to be; 'Power Over Men', 'Dragon Bones', 'Joan Of Arc', 'Sign Of The Times', 'Police Tapes, and 'Crossfire Love'. On the other hand I wouldn't particularly recommend 'Self Esteem' as it is just too repetitive and it tends to drag, and I just don't think that it should have been put as the closing song. Although apart from the closing track, the album as a whole was put together very well and his lyrical genius is still there which is good to see and this album really does allows you to see what an amazing versatile artist that Jamie T really is.
9/10 - see ya Monday mate!
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