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Magnolia Melancholia

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Magnolia Melancholia
EP by
Jamie T
Released6 April 2015 (UK)
7 April 2015 (USA)
Recorded2010–2014
Genre
Length21:27
Label
ProducerJamie T, James Dring
Jamie T chronology
Carry On the Grudge
(2014) 		Magnolia Melancholia
(2015) 		Trick
(2016)
Singles from Magnolia Melancholia
  1. "Don't You Find"
    Released: 10 April 2015
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Contactmusic.com[1]
Drowned in Sound[2]
Gigslutz[3]
The Line of Best Fit[4]
Live in Limbo[5]
NME[6]

Magnolia Melancholia is an extended play (EP) released by English singer-songwriter Jamie T on 6 April 2015 in the UK, and on the 7th in the USA.[7] It was the follow-up release to his third album, Carry On the Grudge (2014), his first release after a five-year hiatus.[8] It includes five new songs (two of which are covers) and one song from the third album, "Don't You Find", which was re-released to once again serve as the lead single.[9]

Background

[edit]

When Carry On the Grudge was released in 2014, "Don't You Find" was released as the first single.[10] However, it failed to chart in any significant way, and was overshadowed by the second single,[11] "Zombie", which became a Top 40 hit.[12] While its third single, "Rabbit Hole", was minorly successful in downloads and physical sales in early 2015,[13] Magnolia Melancholia was released in the spring of 2015, with "Don't You Find" re-released as its lead single.[1] This time, however, it was able to chart, albeit briefly for only one week at #87 on the Official Sales/Downloads Charts.[10]

Jamie T also opted to cover two songs on this EP: "Bastards of Young" (originally by American alternative rock band The Replacements) and "Mama Don't Smoke" (originally by Canadian musical collective Bran Van 3000).[7] The latter was written by Eric Grauer and collective member Sara Johnston;[14] the former was written by lead singer/guitarist, Paul Westerberg.[15]

The other three tracks are new original songs: pseudo-hymnal "Riverbed";[16] "Marilyn Monroe" (referencing the titular American blonde bombshell/film actress, Marilyn Monroe,[4] among others in its lyrics);[1] and its title track, "Magnolia Melancholia".[9] All are written solely by Treays, who stated in an interview with The Observer that he had written upwards of 180 songs during his five year hiatus.[17]

Music video

[edit]

"Don't You Find" originally released an accompanying music video the year prior, when the song premiered on the third album, Carry On the Grudge (2014).[18] The video acquired over 1 million views.[7] It was re-released along with the single.[2]

Critical response

[edit]

The reviews from critics were fairly positive, with most noting Jamie T's evolution in regards to musical maturity and lyrical introspection.[19] Sofie Mikhaylova of Live in Limbo states that "[his] songwriting skills are beyond compare".[5] George Meixner of The Line of Best Fit notes that Jamie's songs are more sullen and solitary, yet tender and heartfelt as a result.[4] Writing for Plastic Magazine, Jamie Skye lauded the entire album, calling it "a thunderous and dramatic package".[19]

Joe Goggins from Drowned in Sound celebrated the re-release of the lead single; and also raved about the title track, calling it "a delight, with a stroppily-delivered vocal battling a chirpy, erratic guitar line for prominence".[2] Jamie Firby from Hit the Floor concurred, writing that the song "Magnolia Melancholia" took the EP "from something brilliant into something sensational".[8] He added that Jamie T's "slow-raps and slurred vocals" within the song were the closest return to form amongst the past two albums.[8] Harry Moore from Contactmusic.com complimented multiple tracks such as "Marilyn Monroe", which he called "an electrifying song" that ought to remind us "why we fell in love with Jamie T".[1]

Writing for Popped Music, Gary Feeney praised the previously released "Don't You Find", stating it "combines a light reggae feel with haunting synth burts and backing vocals complimenting its wistful lyrics".[16] Ben Homewood of NME wrote that "the brilliant "Riverbed" evolves from folky strum to Britpop chugger".[6] James Cummins from Gigslutz lauded the cover of The Replacements' "Bastards of Young", calling it "hauntingly brilliant…as if it were his own".[3] And writing for Beat, Chris Bright said the Bran Van 3000 cover of "Mama Don't Smoke" had an audibly "intimate bar charm" to it.[20]

Not all responses were enthusiastic. Writing for Renowned for Sound, Andja Curcić stated that the EP was "a good mix of tracks", but none of which are equal to its lead single, "Don't You Find".[21] Likewise, despite an above average score of 7/10, Josh Shreeve of It's All Indie remarked that Treays had "become a frustrated man", as evident from his lyrics in "Magnolia Melancholia", which he dubbed a "lethargic heartbreak ballad";[22] and "Riverbed", which was "an Albarn-esque self-reflection which chugs along woefully".[22] Callum McCormack of The Indiependent, however, suggested even if not his greatest, it nevertheless reaffirms "Jamie T is the best solo artist at the moment".[11]

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Jamie Alexander Treays, unless otherwise indicated.[23]

Magnolia Melancholia track listing[a]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Don't You Find"
  • Jamie T
  • Ben Bones
  • James Dring[b]
4:15
2."Marilyn Monroe"Treays
  • Jamie T
  • Dring
3:16
3."Mama Don't Smoke"
Jamie T1:45
4."Magnolia Melancholia"TreaysJamie T4:20
5."Riverbed"Treays
  • Jamie T
  • Dring
3:25
6."Bastards of Young"Paul Westerberg[d]Jamie T4:26
Total length:21:27

Notes:

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Moore, Harry (7 April 2015). "Review of Magnolia Melancholia EP by Jamie T". Contactmusic.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2025. …should remind us all…why we fell in love…many moons ago.
  2. ^ a b c d Goggins, Joe (1 April 2015). "EP Review: Jamie T – Magnolia Melancholia". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 7 February 2025. You can only assume that Mr. Treays has included the track again here because he felt it got a raw deal first time around;
  3. ^ a b Cummins, James (8 April 2015). "EP: Jamie T - Magnolia Melancholia". Gigslutz. Retrieved 9 February 2025. The EP then reaches its final destination with the second cover of the two to feature, this one coming in the form of The Replacements' "Bastards of Young",
  4. ^ a b c Meixner, George (8 April 2015). "Love, life, death and general mardiness with Jamie T". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 8 February 2025. Magnolia Melancholia is an alternative path of a release for an artist known for writing a prolific volume of lyrics.
  5. ^ a b Mikhaylova, Sofie (10 April 2015). "Magnolia Melancholia – Jamie T — Album Reviews". Live in Limbo. Retrieved 7 February 2025. The man's songwriting skills are beyond compare, and somehow, he always falls just outside the traditional radar of indie rock and expanding a bit further into alternative, indie hip hop.
  6. ^ a b Homewood, Ben (30 March 2015). Williams, Mike (ed.). "Jamie T - Magnolia Melancholia". NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 9 February 2025. Jamie Treays follows 2014's album with a gritty EP that evokes his earlier ramshackle spirit.
  7. ^ a b c Treays, Jamie (9 April 2015). "Jamie T – Magnolia Melancholia". Epitaph Records. Retrieved 9 February 2025. …"Don't You Find"…over 1 million views…and a poignant, stripped-back…The Replacements' classic anthem to misspent youth, "Bastards of Young".
  8. ^ a b c Firby, Jamie (15 April 2015). "Jamie T – Magnolia Melancholia / EP Review; HTF Magazine". Hit the Floor. Retrieved 7 February 2025. …we have the most old-school Jamie T-esque song since Kings & Queens.
  9. ^ a b Bound, Chris (20 February 2015). "Jamie T announces new EP Magnolia Melancholia". Mystic Sons. Retrieved 8 February 2025. The EP Magnolia Melancholia will feature the album track "Don't You Find" as well as three unreleased tunes, "Marilyn Monroe", "Riverbed" and "Magnolia Melancholia".
  10. ^ a b ""Don't You Find" – Jamie T". Official Charts Company. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  11. ^ a b McCormack, Callum (7 April 2025). "EP Review: Magnolia Melancholia // Jamie T". The Indiependent. Retrieved 8 February 2025. Jamie singing in a snarling voice which fights with a tremendous guitar line that just straight away gets you grooving along.
  12. ^ ""Zombie" – Jamie T". Official Charts Company. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  13. ^ ""Rabbit Hole" – Jamie T". Official Charts Company. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  14. ^ "Mama Don't Smoke" — Song by Bran Van 3000 (Media notes). Apple Music. 15 April 1997. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  15. ^ Donovan, Thom (7 December 2023). Konicki, Lisa (ed.). "'What a Mess on the Ladder of Success': The Misfit-Approved Meaning Behind "Bastards of Young" by The Replacements". American Songwriter. ISSN 0896-8993. OCLC 17342741. Retrieved 9 February 2025. Westerberg had written a youth anthem for the outsiders. The song speaks to the false hopes of kids born into low-income families.
  16. ^ a b Feeney, Gary (13 April 2015). "EP Review: Jamie T — Magnolia Melancholia". Popped Music. Retrieved 8 February 2025. …having appeared on Carry On The Grudge, the introspective mood that looms over most of E.P.…
  17. ^ Lamont, Tom (21 September 2014). Mulholland, John (ed.). "Jamie T: Whatever happened to the likely lad?". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. OCLC 50230244. Retrieved 9 February 2025 – via The Guardian Weekly. 'I write more songs than anyone I know. I've never stopped writing…' …a desktop computer, its hard drive loaded with 180 complete or near-complete songs.
  18. ^ Wolfson, Sam (15 July 2014). "Oi Oi! Jamie T is Back. Watch his new video for "Don't You Find"". Vice. ISSN 1077-6788. OCLC 30856250. Retrieved 9 February 2025. An impressive return from one of the few…mid-00s UK music we're glad to still have around.
  19. ^ a b c Skye, Jamie (6 May 2015). "EP Review: Magnolia Melancholia by Jamie T." Plastic Magazine. Retrieved 8 February 2025. Magnolia Melancholia is a lot bluer than his earlier material but it's been 5 long years and Jamie T has clearly grown up.
  20. ^ Bright, Chris (19 May 2015). Radbourne, Lucas (ed.). "Jamie T : Magnolia Melancholia". Beat. eISSN 1326-0995. ISSN 1445-4610. Retrieved 8 February 2025. …sounds like it was recorded in an intimate bar setting, which adds to the charm and feeling.
  21. ^ Curcić, Andja (7 April 2015). "EP Review: Jamie T – Magnolia Melancholia". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved 8 February 2025. Jamie T shines the most in the deep and dark sound of Don't You Find and that is the sort of sound he should definitely explore further.
  22. ^ a b Shreeve, Josh (8 April 2015). "EP… Jamie T - Magnolia Melancholia". It's All Indie. Retrieved 8 February 2025. If this EP does anything, it shows that any glimpse of blossoming magnolia in Jamie's life is quickly stunted by the release of pent-up agitation.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "Jamie T – Magnolia Melancholia — Vinyl (12", 33⅓ RPM, EP); 2015". Discogs. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2025. In Loving Memory Of Robb Skipper.
  24. ^ a b c d e Treays, Jamie (6 April 2015). Magnolia Melancholia – EP — Album by Jamie T (Media notes). Virgin Records. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
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