Kate Nash

With a speedy rise to stardom propelled by MySpace, a pronounced British accent and cheeky, conversational story songs, Kate Nash might find it hard to avoid comparisons to "Smile" singer Lily Allen. But while both ladies' debut albums are undoubtedly original (and already adored by UK audiences), Nash's Made of Bricks, as evidenced by its title, possesses an earthliness and earnestness that makes it infinitely more likable than Allen's Alright, Still, and, we reckon, more durable.

Nash wears her disappointments and foibles on her sleeve, but smartly so, as on "Mouthwash" where she sings about mundane truths like having nowhere to go on a Friday night. But her trick is to turn an admission of human weakness (like bad breath) into a sly song of triumph, driven by a cheery little piano melody. An undercurrent of this "shit happens" outlook runs, quite literally, throughout the album—the sweetly sappy ballad "Birds" alludes to the creatures' inspirational beauty, but also how they can crap on your head, while the boozy lament "Shit Song" needs little explanation.

It works, though, because Nash and her production crew excel at dressing these wry tales up with a nice layer of lo-fi pop gloss, making it all surprisingly easy on the ear. With its plinking/twinkling piano, hand claps and skittery, swelling strings, lead single "Foundations" catches onto your synapses and won't let go, an easily endearing tune about the perils of holding on too tight. Meanwhile, "Dickhead," which initially appears to be a trifle, starts with a simple snap and Nash's vulnerable vocals, and, layer by layer, builds the track into a slick, disco-tinged kiss off.

In truth, Made of Bricks was a rush job of a record because MySpace rocketed Nash's popularity before she even had an album to release. Not surprisingly then, the album is not perfect. It might have been well-advisedly trimmed into a long EP—tracks like the grating "Mariella" don't suit Nash's vocal style and "Nicest Thing" flatlines in too-sweet ballad territory. But it's hard to be overly critical when Nash herself is so quick to point out her own imperfections. We hope she takes her time on the next go-round, but there's still much to love here.

J.K. Glei
01.11.08

On a first listen to Kate Nash's debut Made of Bricks, it's easy to hear the similarities to her contemporaries (Lily Allen, the Streets, Amy Winehouse) and influences (Björk, Robbie Williams). Her most popular songs are both intimate and confrontational, using brief portraits and slang-conversational vocals to illustrate the larger issues going on -- the dinner party that exposes a crumbling relationship on "Foundations" or the futility of using "Mouthwash" as a defense against feelings of low self-worth. The music is explosive and sample-driven, but with plenty of ties to contemporary pop, such as the frequent piano runs and occasional chamber brass or woodwinds. Spend time with this album, however, and Nash is revealed as much more than the sum of her parts. First, she's an excellent songwriter who illustrates her tales of romantic woe and inadequacies with grace and many subtleties. (It's easy to see why Allen saw Nash not as a rival but a fellow artist, and how the two quickly became friends.) Nash's frequent sing-speak vocals and rather, erm, direct manner on some songs ("Dickhead," "Shit Song") are what most naysayers immediately point to, but her quiet rage on the former track is tremendously effective. Still, what impresses the most about Made of Bricks are her deft sketches of deteriorating relationships, whether they're being loudly destroyed ("Foundations" again) or wryly and tenderly closing ("Birds"). Nash has plenty of maturation to do as a songwriter and performer, but she shows considerable promise on this debut. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide