8/10

When his debut album 'Panic Prevention' dropped in 2007, it was greeted as one of the most unique and distinctive outings on the bustling indie-rock scene at the time. His raw and uncompromising approach to innovation that blended guitar hooks and slack-jawed rap quickly became his calling card, bleeding through into his sophomore collection 'Kings & Queens' in 2009. But then he matured for his 2014 LP 'Carry On The Grudge' and 2016's 'Trick', opting more for a safer and more driven aesthetic. And after a six-year break, Jamie T is back once again to unveil 'The Theory Of Whatever', a record that sees him embark on a whole new phase in his sound.

Throughout his output to date, Jamie T has always been one to add a warm and heartfelt flair to almost anything he does, and 'The Theory Of Whatever' feels like his most passionate offering to date. While there are still plenty of brash and blistering moments that see him hark back to his unbridled heyday, the most memorable cuts are those that showcase his rich and soaring songwriting, most notably 'The Old Style Raiders', which easily makes it into his top five tracks of all time. It almost feels like he is looking to revive that snotty and snarky kid he once was, but filtered through a lens of years and experience that have honed his focus in recent years.

While it sometimes has a touch of identity crisis about it, as each track looks to remove itself sonically from almost anything else on the record, 'The Theory Of Whatever' remains a fresh and inviting return from an artist that never seems to falter. These last six years have clearly allowed him time to breathe and figure out his next move, something that has only added to the album's overall appeal.