Jamie T - 'Sticks 'n' Stones'
Try as I might, I can't help but flinch slightly if ever I am called upon to use the word 'flow' - in the context of people who talk in rhythmic fashion over music, rather than anything to do with liquid moving about - without inverted commas. It's one of those terms which has come out of hip hop that hasn't quite made it over to the non-streetslang world, possibly because it describes something which is only really important in rapping, and poetry. Or at least, it used to. Hip hop being such a speedy culture, who knows whether it's even in use any more? Not this sucker MC*, that's for sure.
And yet it's a perfect description of the way words can be arranged so that they tumble into one another and form a musical pattern, without the need for there to be music present. Jay-Z has it, Kanye West has it, but so do John Cooper Clarke, Alex Turner, and, to a ridiculous extent, Jamie T.
(No video, sadly. Too rude.)
If you listen to the arrangement of this, his VERY BRILLIANT tale of a wild night out, you could easily concoct a theory that the whole song has been thrown together in order to demonstrate this fact. Actually, I just have. But it's still true, look, proof:
Verse 3 - as the drum machine stutters and plays around the pulse, the bass is playing one note per bar, the choir are no help, lovely as they are, and the twittery synth is, well, twittery. The only thing holding the song together is Jamie and his marvellous rapping mouth.
Verse 4 dispenses with music altogether and there is STILL no let-up. This could exist as an a capella rant, his words like handclaps, ready to get you moving. The man's a lyrical drum-kit, albeit a very sweary one.
Hell, even the radio edit, which takes out all the swear words and replaces them with silence, doesn't break the flow. It's like there's this astonishing skeleton of lyrics, around which music has been woven. Even the chorus, which is sung, is close to a terrace chant, and therefore entirely unreliant on musical support.
Course, it's nice to have the music there too, don't get me wrong. But 90% of the rush and thrill in this brilliant pop song is all contained between Jamie's wonky teeth. No need for floss, when you've got the flow...
Download: Out now
CD Released: June 29th
www.jamie-t.com
BBC Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
God Is In The TV says: "His knack for melody pack[s] even more of a punch."
Instant Hits says: "It barrels along merrily with Jamie trying out three or four vocal styles along the way "
*MC Alpine, if you must know.
Comment number 1.
At 13:50 22nd Jun 2009, catman231 wrote:Brilliant stuff as usual from the "Indie bard"
Good review as well, thought that's a given!
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Comment number 2.
At 19:54 22nd Jun 2009, fluffyfinches wrote:Hey, MC my man, don't be so hard on yourself - your reviews got flow! "the drum machine stutters and plays around the pulse" - that's quite poetic. Bruv.
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Comment number 3.
At 22:53 22nd Jun 2009, spirit wrote:Good .. the cat is at number 1 !
I loved Panic Prevention... it had so many great tracks... Ike and Tina and Calm Down Dearest were my favourites.
This song shows off all his strengths, lyrical finesse , machine gun delivery , an ear for a tune , natural talent , and a distinction that sets him apart from any other artist .
There is only one Jamie T , and he is a national treasure !
The album Kings and Queens is released 31/8/09.....
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Comment number 4.
At 20:30 23rd Jun 2009, catman231 wrote:Thank you Spirit, your patience is much appreciated!
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Comment number 5.
At 21:43 23rd Jun 2009, catman231 wrote:Fraser,
will you be reviewing the Discovery (i.e. Vampire Weekend side-project) track or is it, as I could well appreciate, a little too obscure?
Thanks, and keep up the good work
Catman
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Comment number 6.
At 17:02 2nd Jul 2009, catman231 wrote:bump anyone (i.e. can i have an answer Fraser, pretty please with a cherry and everything?)
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Comment number 7.
At 18:44 22nd Jul 2009, spirit wrote:Kings and Queens album now set to drop September 7th.
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Comment number 8.
At 18:02 5th Feb 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:I am very very very excited to be seeing Jamie tomorrow night.
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Comment number 9.
At 20:36 7th Feb 2010, spirit wrote:Hope Liam is gonna give us a short review of the Jamie T gig !
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Comment number 10.
At 01:41 9th Feb 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:He was absolutely phenominal. Fantastic set played to perfection. He had all the energy, style, anger, agression, love for the people and all the charm his albums have portrayed. He opened slowly, in fact disapointinly, but 3 songs or so in the big numbers came out and then he had the crowd in the palm of his hand.
At one point, nearing the end, he openly invited the crowd to throw whatever they wanted at him. Because that's what he and his mates used to do at the very venue we were at, to acts they loved. I got him on the leg with a cup, one of the few people to manage might I add!
I loved the fact he did tracks like 'Emily's Heart' and 'The Man's Machine' as well as the stompers everybody knows and loves. Highlights? 'If you've got the money' before the encore was absolutely amazing. 'British Intelligence' too oddly. 'Spider's Webs' another hightlight.
A few disappointments that are pretty meaningless in what was one of the best gigs I've ever been to?
The really rubbish opener (cant even remember what track it was). The God awful support band and the fact we really wanted him to do 'If I were a boy' and he didnt :(
I am well sore! Beyond worth it.
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Comment number 11.
At 10:41 9th Feb 2010, spirit wrote:So Jamie T was onstage and invited his fans to throw things at him.
Liam admits that he hit him on the leg with a cup !
Liam , I really hope you were able to get your bra back , after the gig !
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Comment number 12.
At 11:07 9th Feb 2010, mike_duke wrote:Thanks for the review Liam.
There is another review (of the same gig?) here
https://new.uk.music.yahoo.com/blogs/downthefront/6770/jamie-tbrixton-academy-london-050210/;_ylt=Aoc3qZgHjIcBOLboC04Ttp4TDCYv
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