Feature by Ferdinand Moss, Digital Boy
As Rob, the main character from Nick Hornby’s book “High Fidelity” said, “Do I listen to pop music because I’m miserable, or am I miserable because I listen to pop music?”
One of the best break-up albums of 2007, Kate Nash’s “Made of Bricks” is a melancholy pop album that strikes chords with the heart. British-born Nash takes a comedic and self-deprecating perspective on her own life. With simple upbeat piano riffs in “Foundations”, the tone is set for a witty, ironic song about a relationship on the rocks. The song “Merry Happy” is anything but, with the lines “Yeah you make me merry make me very, very happy/But you obviously, you didn’t want to stick around.” Her songs, though they may seem happy at first, are dark, longing looks into Nash’s failing or failed relationships.
The album is not as abrasive or man hating (except for a song named “Dickhead”) as similar artist Lily Allen’s album “Alright, Still”, and not as saccharine sweet as Sara Bareilles’ song “I’m Not Gonna Write You A Love Song”; the songs on this album will surely get stuck in your head. With piano slip-ups here and there and a clever take on life, the album is far from a typical pop album. Take a listen to the songs below and let us know what you think.
For more information, music and a fun cover of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, check out her myspace at http://www.myspace.com/katenashmusic.
Kate Nash – Foundations.mp3
Kate Nash – Merry Happy.mp3
Kate Nash – Mouthwash.mp3
I received an e-mail about this close knit indie rock group from Columbus, Ohio a while ago, but being busy, I just listened to the sample tracks, realized this band was highly enjoyable and went on with my days. It wasn’t until I started doing these ultra music blog updates that I realized I had committed an atrocious crime in not writing about them yet, considering I’ve enjoyed them for weeks.
