Jamie T - Ghosts (100 Days of Morning) - Album Review
Jamie T has been around long enough that it's easy to forget how young he was when he started. He was 18 when his debut, Panic Prevention, came out in 2007, and it got him shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. Since then he's picked up multiple Platinum and Gold albums, hits like "Zombie", "Sticks n Stones" and "Sheila", and over 800 million streams. Now his sixth album, Ghosts (100 Days of Morning), lands on 9 October via Polydor. I'll be honest, it's great. I've always enjoyed Jamie T, and my first thoughts on this one are that it's really good.
This is an 11-track album made up of old ghosts, or ideas that were brought to life during a difficult time in his own life. Growing up and leaving youth behind is in there, and so are love, loss and that brittle nostalgia you get from the halcyon indie nights. Jamie has said it best himself:
"Everyone has a part of themselves they keep at arm's length, even from the people they love. 'Ghosts' to me is about seeing that version of yourself for the first time in a long time and trying to hold on to it. This album is me trying to find that again."
The album is as much about letting go as it is about getting himself back, and you can hear that from the first track.
"3310" opens the album with a grin. The Nokia becomes a status symbol, the snakebite gets its moment, and it all rides on athletic guitars. Loud, cheeky and quick on its feet, it's the right way in.
"Cocktail" was written with Damon Albarn, and it's the night out that goes a bit sideways. The lyrics talk about touring, champagne and breaking promises, and losing friends along the way. "Waist 36 Leg 32" keeps coming back to the idea that ghosts may follow you, and it has lies, sorrowful high streets and a lot of heavy thinking in it.
"All I Wanna See Is Now" is built around repeating its title line over and over, and the lyrics keep returning to not wanting to feel too much. It's the sort of song that sticks in your head for days, which I'm not complaining about.
"The Won" is a bit of a gamble. There's a lottery ticket, a lot of numbers, and Jamie admitting he's 40 now, with life being a losing game. It's a wry one, but there's enough warmth in it that it doesn't turn into a pity party.
"Crimson & Clover" is about an on-and-off relationship that never quite gets settled. "Crucible" brings in Amy, a mother and her kids, and the idea that it's all chess to him. "Caught Cheating" is probably the saddest track on the record, with a love that's gone wrong and plenty of garden and roses imagery, which gives it an old-fashioned feel.
Covering The Jam's "Ghosts" in the middle of the record is a smart move. It fits the album's story so neatly that it feels like it was always meant to be there, and it gives the whole thing a breather before the final stretch.
"Chelsea Girls" is a long list of British culture and references, and the lyrics mention Björk and Goldie as well. "Tallahassee" closes the album, samples Leif Vollebekk's song of the same name, and name-checks Lily Allen, Paul Heaton and Liam Howlett along the way. By the end, you're not quite sure whether he's bigging himself up or laughing at himself. Probably a bit of both, and that's the charm.
All in, a great album, and a welcome return.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✰
It's been a while since I've seen Jamie T live, with the last time being two years ago headlining Truck Festival.
I'm hoping to catch him next week for Truck Records outstore at the O2 Academy Oxford. If the new songs sound this good on record, I can only imagine what they'll be like with a crowd singing every word back at him.