The uninformed might be tempted to lump Kate Nash’s debut, Made of Bricks, into the same category as former Myspace music champion Lily Allen. The comparisons, though, are merely surface-deep. It’s true that Nash is young, cute, British, creates bouncy pop melodies and has gained a large amount of fans in a small amount of time, similar to when Allen exploded onto the musical scene last year. However, Nash’s songwriting style has roots deeper than catchy, pop confections, which may explain her longevity on the pop music charts.
The pop hooks, piano-based and danceable melodies that Nash has crafted, with the aid of producer Paul Epworth (Bloc Party), are certainly the keys to piquing the ears of curious listeners. The pseudo-rap verses and soaring chorus of single “Foundations” are cheerful, hopeful and, above all, sing-able. The ways Nash varies tempo, incorporates synthesized drum beats with live piano, and generally proves to her listening audience that she knows how to make a well-constructed pop song are warming and may draw comparisons to Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor.
Nash’s real power as a songwriter lies in her ability to match charming storylines to her already charming melodies. The fairytale simplicity of stories about a girl who has a skeleton for a best friend (“Skeleton Song”) and other unique musical tales underscore the messages of rescuing lost love and, above all, hope that Nash applauds over the course of the album.
Songs like “D—head” and “S— Song” may turn some listeners off with their regrettably harsh titles, but Nash doesn’t have quite the dirty mouth that these tracks would imply. In fact, these two tracks aside, the creative landscape of her lyrics is rich with colorful language of a different kind. Moreover, the contagiously joyful perspective that Nash applies to the world through her music is a sure cure to mid-semester depression and a window into learning to appreciate life.
