In Review

21 November 2008 16:33 BST

Kate Nash: Made of Bricks

Polydor, released August 6th.

In a nutshell…

Catchy, pop, number one singles

What's it all about

Made of Bricks is the debut album from Kate 'Foundations' Nash, the talented, dramatic-type girl who emerged within seconds from Harrow into the pop charts. It's all obviously not quite as accidental as the record company would have it, but Nash can present Lily Allen-esque pop tunes on demand, making for the ideal package in the current pop climate.

Made of Bricks continues in the pop crossover vein of Foundations, shying away from the eclecticism of debut single Caroline is a Victim. Instead it's all catchy hooks and quaint lyrics about general life, mixed in with the odd tongue-in-cheek reference to a ditched boyfriend.

Mouthwash, the next single, is a fantastic example of the album's overall tone. "This is my face / covered in freckles with the occasional spot and some veins / this is my body / covered in skin and not all of it you can see / and this is my mind / it goes over and over the same old lies," Nash sings, using that Foundations technique when she says it sounding like ittttar.

Who's it by?

The story goes that Kate Nash wanted to go to drama school, she didn't get in and ended up falling down the stairs (not due to the drama school result) of her home and was bedbound for a fair while.

During this time she picked up the guitar her parents bought her and started writing songs, seemingly weeks later she was signed to a record company, playing industry showcases and scoring chart hits.

As an example…

"You're chatting to me as if we connect / but I don't know if we're still friends / it's so confusing understanding you… I just want your kiss boy." - Pumpkin Song

Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys

Kate Nash is near-guaranteed a few Brit nominations and as far as tackling the US is concerned, this is also perfectly possible.

What the others say

"Much of the record is glorious, and blessed with deep musical pockets." The Times

"You can't help thinking there might have been more … if Kate Nash had been given a bit of breathing space, a bit of time to develop what she does: she's clearly not without talent, but equally clearly, it's not fully formed." - The Guardian

So is it any good?

This album's full of the kind of pop crossover hits that will march to the top of the charts like all the other songs about umbrellas and stuff.

Pumpkin Song is one that stands out, notable for its almost R 'n' B overtones and Amy Winehouse jazz in the background. It's catchy and will have people who ache for music credibility extolling "oh I love Kate Nash too!"

Foundations still seems like the most innocent and likeable pop tune on the LP, but it's in able company with Mouthwash, Skeleton Song, Pumpkin Song and We Get On.

Skeleton Song in particular is impressive, with Nash going off on a screaming tangent three minutes in.

There are of course a few stinkers on here, with D***head ranking as one of the worst. "Why you being a d***head for? / stop being a d***head," makes the lemons, bitter, fitter bit from Foundations look like Keats.

Birds is another strong track, the kind of traditional story that Nash does well; very much similar to Foundations. Girl meets boy, boy jumps over ticket barrier because he's got no money, they get on a bus with yesterday's travelcards, get together etc etc. It's acoustic throughout, with Nash crooning about how "the boy liked her" which was all she wanted. There's an amusing tale about birds pooing on your head as well.

Overall Nash has delivered one of the pop albums of the year, memorable, cringing, sweet and above all, full of radio gems.

7/10

Karl Pike

"Kate Nash is the new queen of pop; who wants ancient, wizened crones like Madonna when you can have the genius and beauty of a musical diamond like Nash? Long may she reign!"- Michael Hall