Last year marked another successful British invasion, this time in the form of several pop-flavored female artists. Most recently, 20-year-old Kate Nash, followed the coattails of her friend and fellow Brit artist Lily Allen to the top of UK charts with a helping hand from MySpace. The two share an inclination for turning out eccentric, upbeat indie pop, singing in a cockney accent and describing the world
from a realist’s perspective. Nash pairs comedic phrases with deadpan sentiment, integrating a playful, yet dry sense of humor into her lyrics. On her debut LP Made of Bricks, (released this week in the States this and in August in the UK), you can tell immediately that Nash isn’t the kind of wishy-washy artist who begs for interpretation. Track names such as “Shit Song” and “Dickhead” abound with equally straightforward libretto. Most people will relate easily to her material. Aurally, Made of Bricks falls somewhere between a synth-driven pop album and lighthearted indie rock. Splicy drum beats intermix with variations on a two-chord keyboard pattern in “Foundations,” while “We Get On” brings old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll to the forefront with a IV-V-I base, shimmering tambourine and “oh, ah” background throughout the chorus. Overall the album superimposes a pleasant tone overtop a not-so-pleasant reality. (Interscope) –Julie Pinsonneault