English songstress Kate Nash began her music career by uploading her self-produced music to her MySpace page during the social media site’s heyday. Her confessional songs and simple melodies gained her popularity within the site, and she eventually signed with Moshi Moshi Records in 2007.
She attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology — the same South London performing arts school that brought the world Adele, Leona Lewis and Amy Winehouse.
Her first two albums, “Made of Bricks” and “My Best Friend is You,” were released in 2007 and 2010, respectively, Both were praised for Nash’s bold lyrical prowess and peppy style.
Her debut also earned her recognition as the Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards, the biggest annual music award ceremony in the United Kingdom.
“Girl Talk” is the third studio album from Nash and the first on her own record label, Have 10p Records. Nash decided to create her own record label in 2011 after a falling-out over creative differences with Fiction Records, her previous label.
Nash paid for the production of the album with funds raised by PledgeMusic, a website that allows fans to directly fund new recordings and musical pursuits.
The differences between the highly polished debut and sophomore albums and her most recent endeavor are stark. She brazenly weaves garage rock and punk with her indie pop roots, finally matching her gutsy words with a gutsy sound.
Nash offers no apologies for her defiance, and feminist themes are strong throughout the album. In her song “All Talk” she sings, “You have a problem with me ‘cause I’m a girl / I’m a feminist, and if that offends you / Then f— you.” It’s “girl power” for a new generation.
Nash eases you into her new sound with “Part Heart,” a slow, melodic progression into the grittiness of garage rock. The song begins as a simple melody, but as the guitar riffs get darker, so does Nash’s voice.
Throughout the album, a heavy bass line guides you from one song to the next, from the upbeat pop of “Fri-End?” to the surfer rock sound of “Death Proof.”
“Sister” is a refreshing song with an incredible chord progression and an edge that was missing musically from her previous albums. Her voice shrieks, squeaks and confronts you, head on.
Despite the obvious change to musical style, her lyrics and timing are still immaculate: “Being ripped away from you was like being ripped out of the womb / Ok, I’m sorry, is that too dramatic?”
The album’s first single, “3AM,” would have fit well on any of her previous albums. Her singsong style reappears on this peppy track, with only a hint of the grit that runs through the rest of the album.
“OMYGOD!” and “Are You There Sweetheart?” experiment with new sounds and distortion, but also maintain her original style with her clever lyrics and happy melodies. They are both simple reminders of how far she has come stylistically over the past few years.
“Girl Talk” offers a solid collection of songs that span a number of genres, but all work together cohesively because of Nash’s brilliant writing abilities. It sounds more like the determined sound of a new garage band than the third album of an established singer-songwriter, but that is what gives it its charm.
Her experimentation and keen abilities translate into something that sounds distorted and raw, while maintaining a polished and deliberate feel. It is an uncut gem and an enjoyable step away from the sound that made her famous.
Grade: B