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Jamie T. - Carry On the Grudge

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It's been five years since Jamie Alexander Treays, otherwise known as Jamie T, released his second album Kings and Queens and in that time, actually said very little, causing some to speculate that he may have hung up his microphone for good. Of course, an appearance on Tim Timbebomb's 'Wrongful Suspicion' in early 2013 set the rumour mill working in the opposite direction and news about a much anticipated third album began to surface.

Proving those rumours true, Jamie T released 'Don't You Find' in July of this year, breaking a five year almost-silence with a track that's darker and more refined than anything the singer has put out previously, and is a theme that carries on through the majority of Carry on the Grudge. This shouldn't come as surprise however as Treays was 23 when his last album dropped, and now at 28 and quickly approaching his 30s, the shedding of his cockney lad's lad persona was probably more a natural maturing than he'd lead you to you believe. Interestingly enough, 28 is also the same age as Arctic Monkey's Alex Turner, and it's easy to imagine Turner kicking himself should he hear Carry on the Grudge; its edgy darkness an aesthetic aimed for on his band's most recent record, but pulled off to a far greater degree here.

Of course, there's still plenty of Treays' idiosyncratic verbosity and vocal delivery, particularly as the album moves in to its second half. Tracks like 'Rabbit Hole' harnesses the same urgency that overflowed from 2007's Panic Prevention, only with their edges rounded and the production tightened. As if any more evidence of a maturity was needed, 'Love is Only A Heartbeat Away' is perhaps his most poignant track yet, and also his most traditional in terms of lyrics and structure, even his vocal delivery is softened and strangely in tune whilst following track 'Murder of Crows' utilises a singsong melody not dissimilar to that of Los Campesinos!' 'Baby, I Got the Death Rattle'.

Is it an album that's been worth waiting five years for though? The answer in short, is yes, absolutely. Though it might not have the same immediate pay off as his previous releases, Carry on the Grudge is an album which grows on you with each listen, and though tracks like the radio-friendly 'Zombie' are few and far between, there's enough commercial value here to keep fair weather fans happy, whilst those who have been rapturously awaiting Jamie's return have absolutely nothing to worry about, and though there's plenty of mellower moments that counteract the darker aspects of the album, the angry artist we grew to love, then proceeded to miss, is still very much alive underneath the glossy sentiment and swooning brass sections.

Pre-order the album here.

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