Playing approximately 29 different genres of music on top of one another, and with two choruses for the price of one, Sticks 'N' Stones is a stunning return to form from the 23 year-old wag of Wimbledon. More brat than brap, the trustafarian scatting and cod-reggae of yore which peppered his debut 'Panic Prevention' have been calmed in favour of letting his gospel and uplifting pop influences and, of course, unique self-deprecating rapping style, now fine-tuned and more assured than before ("Running with believers/no time for fever/and I ain't got no time for you either!"), come to the fore. His previous recording style saw him record much of his debut alone in his bedroom, but the backing singers and live band now present add muscle to the existing formula, that sees his knack for melody pack even more of a punch.
The typically stupendous lyrics detail JT's lost youth drinking White Lightning in Hampden Wick, confrontation-happy rascals and wideboys, disintegrating friendships and a line instructing haters to go "suck their mumma's tits", all done with his trademark articulacy and knack for when to both raise and lower the tone. Joyful and uplifting, it arrives not a moment too soon from his spell holed away in the studio, and provides a tantilising taster for both the upcoming EP of the same name, and for his anticipated new album, due sometme later this year. Tremendous.
‘Sticks ‘N’ Stones EP’ is released on Virgin Records on June 29th.
Can't argue with that. Heard the tune and there's nothing wrong with it, decent. It'll be played to death on the radio though and within a month it'll make me want to scoop out my eyeballs.
