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
The Guardian	^[2]
NME	^[3]
Rolling Stone	^[4]

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.^[3]

Track listing

*The Theory of Whatever* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"90s Cars"	Jamie Treays Alex Chilton^[a] Tom Dinsdale	Treays Dinsdale Hugo White	3:17
2.	"The Old Style Raiders"	Treays	Treays White	3:55
3.	"British Hell"	Glenn Danzig	Treays Dinsdale White	2:11
4.	"The Terror of Lambeth Love"	Treays Charles Watson Olly Burden	Treays Watson Burden	1:46
5.	"Keying Lamborghinis"	Treays Dinsdale	Treays Dinsdale White^[b]	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 White Matt Maltese	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

Note

^{^[a]} "90s Cars" is interpolated over This Mortal Coil's cover of Big Star's "Kanga Roo", written by frontman Chilton.^[5]
^{^[b]} Indicates an additional producer.

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)^[6]	48
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[7]	1
UK Albums (OCC)^[8]	1

References

^ ^a ^b "Reviews for The Theory Of Whatever by Jamie T". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
^ Petridis, Alexis. "The Theory Of Whatever – Jamie T." The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^ ^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.
^ Nick, Reilly. "The Theory Of Whatever – Jamie T." Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^ "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.

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

[NME-3] 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.

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

[5] "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.

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

[ac_Scotland_-7] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2022.

[ac_UK2_-8] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2022.

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