Kate Nash - Made Of Bricks

[Drew Beringer]

Kate Nash - Made Of Bricks
Release Date: January 8, 2008
Record Label: Fiction

Kate Nash must have a lot of things going through her brain constantly. It’s the only thing that can explain her debut album, Made Of Bricks, which comes across as both focused and scattered at the same time.

The English songwriter has been compared to Lily Allen for various reasons, including their use of wit and inappropriate language in their lyrics, as well as their London accents. But that’s where the comparisons end, at least for this reviewer. Made Of Bricks features excellent instrumentation and a much more eloquent writing style. Bricks was released in the UK this past summer, as it reached the number 1 spot on the UK charts. Finally making its debut on American soil, you’ll either love Kate Nash or hate her, as this album is bound to very polarizing.

Produced by Paul Epworth, Bricks bleeds with tracks that range from haunting piano pop to energetic tunes that’ll never escape your head. Add a dash of electronica, buzzing guitars, and stellar drumming, and you have yourself a cornucopia of different genres fusing together.

“Foundations,” the first single off the album, blazed all the way up to the number two position on the UK charts. Backed by sharp piano strikes and ridiculously catchy drumming, it’s easy to see why this song is huge over the pond. With a fuzzed out guitar pacing Nash’s quick lipped lyrics, the chorus is overtaken by lush instrumentation. “Mouthwash,” one of my favorite tracks, will cater to those who obsess over Something Corporate, that is, if Andrew McMahon was a female. The chorus is huge, with charging drums and piano keys that float and loop up and down throughout your ear drums.

But not all the tracks are as upbeat as those, as songs such as “Dickhead” and “Nicest Thing” are slower paced, as “Dickhead” carries a bit of a blues vibe to it. “Birds” could be a huge radio hit, as it has a unique way of explaining new love behind a gently strummed acoustic guitar. “Mariella” puts on full display how scatterbrained Nash can be at times, with its quirky lyrics loaded in between hand claps and peppy piano strokes. “Pumpkin Soup” is where the Lily Allen comparisons begin, with its trippy horns and bumping bass drum setting the groove. Bricks end with the bouncy “Merry Happy,” which features some “da-do-do’s” (which everyone loves) and ends with Nash proclaiming “I can be alone/I can watch a sunset on my own.”

Other than for one song and few other snippets, don’t listen to this record thinking you’re getting Lily Allen v2.0, because you are getting something much better. Kate Nash has the voice and tunes to make a splash here in the States. Made Of Bricks is genuinely catchy and satisfying, and not some album coming from a major trying to cash in on the popularity of Feist, A Fine Frenzy, and the like. Kate Nash can stand on her own, and Made Of Bricks is the perfect foundation to what is to be a very promising career.

Track Listing:
1. Play
2. Foundations
3. Mouthwash
4. Dickhead
5. Birds
6. We Get On
7. Mariella
8. Shit Song
9. Pumpkin Soup
10. Skeleton Song
11. Nicest Thing
12. Merry Happy
Produced by Paul Epworth

Buy it now: http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/images/badgeitunes61x15dark.gif (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=dbziBg1FBPw&offerid=78941&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos. apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStor e.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fi%25 3D270842182%2526id%253D270842179%25 26s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30 )

Official Website (http://www.katenash.co.uk); Official Myspace ( http://www.myspace.com/katenashmusic)

[Blake Solomon]

Enter Drew Beringer.


Great to see a full drewbie review. It's been too long!

[genericmadness]

I saw the video for 'Foundations' and instantly fell in hate

[netzephyr]

I bought this for my girlfriend, and, unlikely as it sounds, grew to really appreciate it. It's definitely a grower.

[Nix Santos]

She's amazing, I've loved her from the start. Glad she's getting some attention she deserves over here in the US now, too.

[WakingTheMisery]

If its anything like Lily, I will love it.

[rocktwin22]

I saw that she was MTV's Artist of the Week last week, which went pretty well since her album was being released last week. I liked her sound, so I may have to give her album a listen. Great review. Very convincing :)

[Gumbyjag]

she's so pretty.

[WakingTheMisery]

Five minutes later and I already don't like her.

[jerseysbest]

I've been looking forward to this review. I agree that you will either love this or hate this. Really good review good to have you back.

[saysmydoctor]

Great vocalist, great review

[sjb2k1]

"don’t listen to this record thinking you’re getting Lily Allen v2.0, because you are getting something much better."

Very pleased to read that. This CD is incredibly catchy, and Kate Nash deserves proper recognition for it.

And I'm thinking you are right regarding either loving this CD or hating it...I am in the lover category. The copy I have has a hidden track on it called "Little Red," which is probably my favorite song on the whole damn thing...if you haven't heard it, find it and love it.

[WakingTheMisery]

"don’t listen to this record thinking you’re getting Lily Allen v2.0, because you are getting something much better."

Disagree with that in every way.

[matt_rawlings]

100% Disagree with the review.

[Drew Beringer]

"don’t listen to this record thinking you’re getting Lily Allen v2.0, because you are getting something much better."

Very pleased to read that. This CD is incredibly catchy, and Kate Nash deserves proper recognition for it.

And I'm thinking you are right regarding either loving this CD or hating it...I am in the lover category. The copy I have has a hidden track on it called "Little Red," which is probably my favorite song on the whole damn thing...if you haven't heard it, find it and love it.
Yeah, I have Little Red, it's really good.

[tymsnurmn04]

Mmm, birds. I love that song.

[sjb2k1]

Disagree with that in every way.

I was just quotin' Drew. Are you more of a fan of Lily Allen? Or do you think they both sound the same?

[sweetforever]

Nicest Thing is my favorite song off of this album.

[fluke182]

I'm a fan of this album, but far prefer her upbeat stuff.

[dustyfloors]

I am interested... Will have to check this out!

[tom_q]

I love this album. Mouthwash is epic.

[Blaise K]

I don't have Kate Nash's full album yet but from what I've heard I find Kate's music FAR more fulfilling that of Lily Allen. Basically, Kate is someone I'd rather have in my studio for a jam session. That's the best way to sum up my reasoning. And it's not only because of her immense hotness. Oh, and if you don't agree with me about the hotness, please watch this video of her performance of "Foundations" on Conan last week.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x40ieo_kate-nash-performs-foundations-on-c_music

[im_wide_awake]

i really really liked this album
downloaded it per drew's rec
i heard foundations a while ago, but my ex was singing it to me so i didnt like it as much
now though, this album is very good

[scmaley]

I was attempting to watch some of the America's Next Top Model marathon on MTV last Friday night, but the fact that MTV was juxtaposing her music with commercials for every show currently airing on that channel just gave me a headache and kind of turned me off to listening to her music. I'm not sure it was a smart move to agree to that kind of advertising.
That aside, she has a nice voice, but not really the type of music that I'm into right now.

[thebarrelboy]

I thought it was called "Made of Birds" for a second, but I guess it's not. Kind of a let down.

[reissgoespunk]

Great artist.

[hipvee43]

Kate nash is great, i love her songs but i wouldn't call this a great album in that it looses it for me at dickhead, and mariella and its hard to make it to the end but yeah i love foundations, we get on, mouthwash, and most of the others.

ok guys who do u think is hotter kate nash, or hayley williams?

[lovelyloveleigh]

If Andrew McMahon were female.... classic. Well, that line won me over. I'll give her a listen.

[jcsubtitled]

Drew, long time.

I think it's interesting that you would post a review about this album as I had just discovered her myself a couple of days ago. Love her, enjoy your review.

I'd like to add a few things, if no one else has beaten me to the punch.

Kate Nash and Lily Allen are, in fact, friends due to their similar expressive natures. Lily sought out Kate or something... on MySpace. I don't know for sure. A stickler for anything British, I believe Kate Nash is actually from Dublin. The Irish would have a fit if you called it a London accent.

Lastly, less condescendingly and more for any Arctic Monkeys fans, Kate Nash also has a Live Cover of "Fluorescent Adolescent" floating around out there.

And with my iPod on shuffle, the beloved Lily Allen's "Knock'em Out" now plays as I end this post.

[oldy]

She's miles better than Lily Allen but I'm still not much of a fan. That accent just sounds massively affected, it gets on my nerves.

[mydreamrewrite]

I've been enjoying this album for about a week, so it's funny that I just came upon this review. As I said, I really dig her voice and her fun songs, but 'Dickhead' is just annoying as fuck.

[jcsubtitled]

She's miles better than Lily Allen but I'm still not much of a fan. That accent just sounds massively affected, it gets on my nerves.

Might have to be a Regina Spektor fan too to enjoy Kate, or so I've heard.

[sonicfury]

Are you people deaf!? She is so bad it hurts, with lyrics like

"Caroline wishes that she could meet
All the boys and the girls that live down her street
Cause she knows that they share that tapping of the feet
When she plays that killer killer killer killer beat

Caroline's a victim
Caro-line
Caroline's a victim
Caroline is a victim
Caroline's a victim
Caroline's a victim
Caroline's a victim
Caroline's a victim
Caroline is a victim
Caroline's a victim
Caroline's a victim
Caroline's a victim
Caroline is a victim"

Or the classic and oft voted worst lyric of the year,

"You said I must eat so many lemons, coz I am so bitter."

Seriously how could you give her an 8 for lyrics!!?? She's gutter voiced and utterly talentless.

[HopelessMelissa]

amazing album!

[TJ Wells]

If anything, her voice sounds more to me like Regina Spektor than Lily Allen. The only similarity between the two is that they both have heavy London accents.

[3GunGaz]

Irish? I thought she's from Harrow?

[3GunGaz]

She's gutter voiced and utterly talentless.

To not like her is one thing..
To claim she is utterly talentless just makes you an idle moron.

[AnarchyintheUS]

Here's my review:

Kate Nash: Made of Shit

33%

[kennedy.curse.]

Good review!
She kinda reminds me of a mixture of Lily Allen and The Streets haha. Anyone else hear that a little? But anyways i heard her randomly last week on the radio and was amazed. I went out and got the cd two days later. I think my favourite tracks are Mariella and Skeleton Song. And Foundations of course!

[u are a retard]

Irish? I thought she's from Harrow?

She's not Irish, she was born in Dublin, that doesn't make her Irish though. She is English.

[Ailite]

I love your reviews Drew, but I just can't get into this album

I gave it a chance and I just think shes being delibaretly sassy and in Foundations she just sounds like a bitch. I think its a very personal thing.
I'll keep trying. I like the music, my main gripe is just her lyrics.

And that Caroline song is fucking horrible.

[sonicfury]

To not like her is one thing..
To claim she is utterly talentless just makes you an idle moron.

I am definitly not idle I put a lot of effort into despising the music of kate gash! In fairness I meant to say that lyrically she is utterly talentless, I won't put in my opinion because that much is fact :-p In all seriousness though I don't understand why, with so much choice in good music, anyone would listen to this sort of mindless crap? If you want to hear well observed and funny lyrics in songs that are plain awesome then go check out The Hold Steady! Don't tell me Kate Nash is good music though, it just isn't true!

[sonicfury]

I love your reviews Drew, but I just can't get into this album

I gave it a chance and I just think shes being delibaretly sassy and in Foundations she just sounds like a bitch. I think its a very personal thing.
I'll keep trying. I like the music, my main gripe is just her lyrics.

And that Caroline song is fucking horrible.

Don't bother, honestly, those lyrics aren't get any better!

[joshy hizzle]

wonderful, wonderful cd

[shadowofmyself]

I pretty much agree with the rating of this album. I love "Birds" and "Mouthwash." I actually picked this up yesterday. Best Buy had it on backorder, and I bought the last copy at Target.

I have to admit some of her lyrics are strange, but I can't seem to stop singing.

[altemose09]

i like her voice. i'm gonna have to check this out.

[Jaster]

I also 100% disagree with this review.

[Julia Conny]

I am going to go buy this album today.

[Drew Beringer]

I also 100% disagree with this review.
And I also 100% don't care.

[sonicfury]

And I also 100% don't care.

And I also 100% would bang Kate Nash but then silence her... oh wait no one said that.

[SJms1026]

The first time I listened to "Foundations", I really hated it.
But, after a few listens, the whole album is growing on me.

[lowemae]

I 100% hate her voice and believe if she can make it into the music industry, anyone can.

[Blaise K]

To not like her is one thing..
To claim she is utterly talentless just makes you an idle moron.

Seconded.


Good review!
She kinda reminds me of a mixture of Lily Allen and The Streets haha. Anyone else hear that a little?

Funny, you should say so, my girlfriend mentioned the Streets correlation. I see it as well.


She's gutter voiced and utterly talentless.


Yeah, I honestly believe some artists are "love it or hate it" by nature. I've always been amused by people so offended by someone's enjoyment of an artist that they go out of the way to slander said artist. As if your hating an artist is going to effect my liking them? Seriously? Go ahead and not like something. Fact is, musicians make it on tv and sell albums because of one attribute (people like them). Music IMO is a subjective, very personal matter. i'll give it to you that talent can be seen as more objective a matter. If you want to deny Kate Nash of having any talent, which you took back, I'd have to disagree. I think the members of N'Sync were very talented in many ways. I despised their music, but I don't deny their talent. Same goes for almost all country music. Nuff said, my $.02

[Steve16]

100% Disagree with the review.

Me too, this is beyond awful. People are right she does have some talent although it's very very minimal.

[Blaise K]

I have a question for those who say Kate Nash isn't talented. Two questions for you. First, do you think she is not talented in terms of technique and skill or do you think she isn't artistically talented? Second question: What instruments do you play, or more generally, what is your exposure to music. I'm not sure if there's any connection but I'm curious to how everyone responds.

[ade]

Too bad for her. Quite late to release the record.
People's ears already caught by Allen.

[Post-me]

Her upbeat tracks are awesome, so catchy! And lyrics are great.. but not in every songs.

Good Good review