While Kate Nash’s debut album Made of Bricks was released over four months ago, the album doesn’t technically hit U.S. shelves until this Tuesday so in my mind, there’s still time for a review. I put off checking out Nash for some time, probably as a result of my infatuation with Lily Allen and her unique music styles. I sensed Nash was just a copycat with the same cute British accent. Boy was I wrong.

Sure, Nash and Allen have the same aforementioned cute British accent and both sing of life stories using smart, raunchy lyrics. But by no means are their styles identical. Perhaps taking more of a page from Regina Spektor, Made of Bricks features more of a pop sound, which oddly enough, complements Nash’s foulmouthed lyrics extraordinary well. In “Foundations,” Nash sings disparagingly about the breakdown of a relationship in a song that opens with the melodic, upbeat sound of a piano. The piano run obviously represents the false sense of happiness often found in relationships and becomes one of many musical tools Nash uses to represent the false realities of life throughout the album. Characteristics like this are what helps Made of Bricks distinguish itself in sound from the albums of Nash’s musical contemporaries.

Again like Allen and to some extent Spektor, Nash uses her album as an autobiographical exploration. It’s deep and passionate, and most of all, real. Nash truly pours out her heart, and is not at all afraid to respond with lyrical force. From the blatant belittling of a former love in “Dickhead” to the simple, but emotionally complicated tale of unattainable love in “Nicest Thing,” no stone is left untouched. Yet in many ways, Made of Bricks is a very relateable album. It’s hard to remember that these words and emotions are expressed by a girl who is just 20-years-old. She sings of the same ups and downs of life and love experienced by most, if not at all people in the crazy journey that is life. She just has transferred both life’s joys and sufferings and the words and feelings that come with it, into music.

Is her music and style anything new? Not at all. But in a music world dominated by conformity and commercial appeal, Kate Nash is a nice breath of fresh air. And I am now happy to say, I now have two favorite, foul-mouthed British musicians.

Rating:

Check Out:
“Foundations” [audio=http://www.box.net/shared/static/opr74kr484.mp3]
“Nicest Things” [audio=http://www.box.net/shared/static/13v31qd4ww.mp3]

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Categories: Album Reviews, News
Tags: Alex Young, Kate Nash