The Theory of Whatever

The Theory of Whatever
The Theory of Whatever
Studio album by Jamie T
Released	22 July 2022
Genre	Alternative rock • indie rock
Length	41:04
Label	Polydor
Producer	Charles Watson; Hugo White; Jamie Treays; Olly Burden; Tom Dinsdale;
Jamie T chronology
Singles from The Theory of Whatever
	"The Old Style Raiders"; Released: 4 May 2022; "St. George Wharf Tower"; Released: 21 June 2022; "Between the Rocks"; Released: 20 July 2022;

The Theory of Whatever is the fifth album by English indie rock singer-songwriter Jamie T, released on 22 July 2022 through Polydor Records. The first single from the album, "The Old Style Raiders", was released on 4 May 2022, followed by "St. George Wharf Tower" on 21 June, and "Between the Rocks" on 20 July.

The album was Jamie T's first release in nearly six years and entered the charts at number one in its first week of release. It spent one more week in the charts at 36th position.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	82/100^[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Clash	^[2]
DIY	^[3]
The Guardian	^[4]
The Independent	^[5]
NME	^[6]
The Observer	^[7]
Rolling Stone	^[8]
The Telegraph	^[9]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, The Theory of Whatever received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from 11 critic scores.^[1] NME stated the album was a "liberating return from a star as relaxed as ever", in their review where it received four out of five stars.^[6]

Track listing

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

*The Theory of Whatever* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"90s Cars"	Jamie Treays Tom Dinsdale Alex Chilton^[a]	Treays Dinsdale Hugo White	3:17
2.	"The Old Style Raiders"	Treays	Treays White	3:55
3.	"British Hell"	Treays Glenn Danzig^[b]	Treays Dinsdale White	2:11
4.	"The Terror of Lambeth Love"	Treays Charles Watson Olly Burden	Treays Burden Watson	1:46
5.	"Keying Lamborghinis"	Treays Dinsdale	Treays Dinsdale White	3:30
6.	"St. George Wharf Tower"	Treays	Treays White	3:10
7.	"A Million & One New Ways to Die"	Treays	Treays White	3:17
8.	"Thank You"	Treays Matt Maltese White	Treays White	4:00
9.	"Between the Rocks"	Treays White	Treays White	3:31
10.	"Sabre Tooth"	Treays	Treays White	3:24
11.	"Talk Is Cheap"	Treays Burden	Treays Burden	3:03
12.	"Old Republican"	Treays	Treays White	3:23
13.	"50,000 Unmarked Bullets"	Treays	Treays White	2:27
Total length:				41:04

Deluxe edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Bonnie & Clyde"	Treays	Treays White	3:01
15.	"Kill, Kill, Kill"	Treays Burden	Treays Burden	2:48
16.	"Run of the Mill" (feat. Bessie Turner)	Treays Turner Burden	Treays Burden	3:15
Total length:				50:10

Digital bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"The Luddite"	Treays Burden	Treays Burden	2:22
Total length:				52:32

European 7" vinyl release only
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
18.	"Camber Love"	Treays	Treays Dinsdale	2:11
Total length:				54:43

Notes

^{^[a]} "90s Cars" is interpolated over This Mortal Coil's cover of Big Star's "Kanga Roo", written by frontman Chilton.^[10]
^{^[b]} "British Hell" utilizes a sample of American punk-rock band Misfits' 1981 song, "London Dungeon" (written by frontman, Glenn Danzig), as its chorus.^[9]

Personnel

Musicians

Jamie T – vocals, background vocals (all tracks); programming (1–5, 10), guitar (2–4, 6, 7, 9–11), bass programming (3); bass, drums (9); piano (13)
Rupert Jarvis – bass (1–3, 5, 7, 10)
Jamie Morrison – drums (1–3, 5, 7, 10)
Rob Harris – bass programming (1)
Nerys Richard – cello (1)
Hal Ritson – keyboards, programming (1)
Richard Adlam – keyboards, programming (1)
Hugo White – guitar (2, 3, 7–10), bass (8, 9, 13), programming (8–10), drums (9)
Olly Burden – programming (4, 11), guitar (4)
Matt Maltese – background vocals, guitar (8)

Technical

John Davis – mastering
Cenzo Townshend – mixing
Jag Jago – engineering (1–3, 5–10, 12, 13)
Olly Burden – engineering (4, 11)
Camden Clarke – mixing assistance
Jan Ashwell – mixing assistance
Robert Sellens – mixing assistance

Charts

Chart performance for *The Theory of Whatever*
Chart (2022)	Peak position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)^[11]	48
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[12]	1
UK Albums (OCC)^[13]	1

References

^ ^a ^b "Reviews for The Theory Of Whatever by Jamie T". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
^ Murray, Robin (21 July 2022). "Jamie T – The Theory Of Whatever". Clash. ISSN 1743-0801. Retrieved 29 January 2025. Jamie T retains a gravitas that few of his peers can match.
^ Williams, Jenessa (22 July 2022). "Jamie T - The Theory of Whatever". DIY. Retrieved 31 January 2025. Proof that you can grow up gracefully with every inch of your vibrancy still intact.
^ Petridis, Alexis. "The Theory Of Whatever – Jamie T." The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^ Nugent, Annabel (21 July 2022). Greig, Geordie (ed.). "Jamie T review, The Theory of Whatever: Indie recluse is back with an evolution of his signature sleaze". The Independent. ISSN 1741-9743. OCLC 185201487. Retrieved 30 January 2025. The return of the indie troubadour is well worth the wait – and not without surprises.
^ ^a ^b Daly, Rhian (21 July 2022). "Jamie T – The Theory Of Whatever review: liberating return from a star as relaxed as ever". NME. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
^ Kalia, Ammar (23 July 2022). Webster, Paul (ed.). "Jamie T: The Theory of Whatever review – the mouthy street poet grows up". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. OCLC 50230244. Retrieved 29 January 2025 – via The Guardian US. Yearning ballads and joyful anthems show a more mature and vulnerable side to Jamie Treays.
^ Nick, Reilly. "The Theory Of Whatever – Jamie T." Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^ ^a ^b Hall, James (22 July 2022). Evans, Chris (ed.). "Jack White channels The Beatles; Nina Nastasia reveals a harrowing ordeal – the week's best albums". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 30 January 2025. The song "British Hell" features a sample of 1981 track "London Dungeon" by US punk band Misfits,
^ "Universal Music Publishing Group – UK: Jamie T." Universal Music Publishing Group. 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2024. The album opens with "90s Cars", on which he raps, scats, and sings over an interpolation of This Mortal Coil's version of Alex Chilton's "Kanga Roo". A timeless cover of a timeless classic, now given a timely rerub.
^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 August 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1691. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 August 2022. p. 10.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2022.

[MC-1] "Reviews for The Theory Of Whatever by Jamie T". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 July 2022.

[Clash-2] Murray, Robin (21 July 2022). "Jamie T – The Theory Of Whatever". Clash. ISSN 1743-0801. Retrieved 29 January 2025. Jamie T retains a gravitas that few of his peers can match.

[DIY-3] Williams, Jenessa (22 July 2022). "Jamie T - The Theory of Whatever". DIY. Retrieved 31 January 2025. Proof that you can grow up gracefully with every inch of your vibrancy still intact.

[4] Petridis, Alexis. "The Theory Of Whatever – Jamie T." The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2022.

[Independent-5] Nugent, Annabel (21 July 2022). Greig, Geordie (ed.). "Jamie T review, The Theory of Whatever: Indie recluse is back with an evolution of his signature sleaze". The Independent. ISSN 1741-9743. OCLC 185201487. Retrieved 30 January 2025. The return of the indie troubadour is well worth the wait – and not without surprises.

[NME-6] Daly, Rhian (21 July 2022). "Jamie T – The Theory Of Whatever review: liberating return from a star as relaxed as ever". NME. Retrieved 23 July 2022.

[Observer-7] Kalia, Ammar (23 July 2022). Webster, Paul (ed.). "Jamie T: The Theory of Whatever review – the mouthy street poet grows up". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. OCLC 50230244. Retrieved 29 January 2025 – via The Guardian US. Yearning ballads and joyful anthems show a more mature and vulnerable side to Jamie Treays.

[8] Nick, Reilly. "The Theory Of Whatever – Jamie T." Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 July 2022.

[Telegraph-9] Hall, James (22 July 2022). Evans, Chris (ed.). "Jack White channels The Beatles; Nina Nastasia reveals a harrowing ordeal – the week's best albums". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 30 January 2025. The song "British Hell" features a sample of 1981 track "London Dungeon" by US punk band Misfits,

[10] "Universal Music Publishing Group – UK: Jamie T." Universal Music Publishing Group. 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2024. The album opens with "90s Cars", on which he raps, scats, and sings over an interpolation of This Mortal Coil's version of Alex Chilton's "Kanga Roo". A timeless cover of a timeless classic, now given a timely rerub.

[11] "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 August 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1691. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 August 2022. p. 10.

[ac_Scotland_-12] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2022.

[ac_UK2_-13] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2022.

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