Kate Nash - Made of Bricks review

Album of the week - Kate Nash’s debut album Made of Bricks is already making its way to the top of the charts, but only time will tell whether she’s just another chav-tastic singer hoping to jump on the Lily Allen bandwagon.

Need to know

Home-bound after falling down a flight of stairs and breaking her foot, and rejected by the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, luck is eventually on singer-songwriter Kate Nash’s side – after she stormed the charts with her number-two-reaching single ‘Foundations’, before releasing her debut album this week.

Having already separated the music critic camps across the country, some (including the SoGlos.com team) are arguing that the similarities between pop princess to the chavs Lily Allen and newcomer Kate Nash are difficult to ignore, while others are drawing attention to Nash’s Regina Spektor influences claiming the 20-year-old songstress is much more than a bandwagon-jumping wannabe.

Best track

While there are a few tracks with explicit names which will undoubtedly help with sales amongst younger listeners, the single ‘Foundations’ – love it or hate it – reflects the artists’ vocal talents, confident style and is already stuck firmly in our heads. Forthcoming single ‘Mouthwash’ also stands out – drawing upon the more mundane aspects of life in an accomplished pop piece, and ‘Skelton Song’ is yet another Made of Bricks highlight worth checking out.

Worst track

‘S**t song’ is an apt title for what seems to be a rushed attempt at bulking-up the album’s 12 tracks – offering predictable, shock-tactic lyrics and a tacky tune, all of which combine to three minutes of your life, which you will never get back.

One for the collection?

With Made of Bricks Kate Nash is putting herself out there – inviting everyone to the party and not caring about those who don’t want to stay for a cup of tea. The debut album is undoubtedly one of the most interesting pop releases of the year and, while it’s already found its way into our collection, whether or not it starts collecting dust only time will tell.

James Fryer
6 August 2007