Kate Nash’s ‘Made of Bricks’: ten years on and still one of my top albums

It’s been a decade since Kate Nash released her debut studio album ‘Made of Bricks’. Prior to this Nash was posting tracks to MySpace. Fast forward a year and Nash’s debut single “Foundations” fell less than 200 sales short to reach the number one spot.

Nash was signed shortly after releasing “Foundations”, the summer of 2007 saw the release of her first album with Polydor Records. I remember buying a CD copy from my local Woolworths and listening to it on repeat for days. I still do, sometimes.

WATCH: KATE NASH - 'FOUNDATIONS' (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

‘Made of Bricks’ ticks all the boxes. Everything from the artist herself and her distinctive cockney accent to her feel-good tracks and cute album art. Nash has always been unique and interesting, which is displayed here with ‘Made of Bricks’, but also at the Brits in 2008 when she won Best British Female.

At a time when Lily Allen and Jamie T were gaining popularity, the mid-2000s enjoyed loud-mouthed, gobby vocals and upbeat catchy melodies. Nash’s cheerful “Mouthwash” and flirtatious “Pumpkin Soup” capture this with the bubbly piano chorus and relatable lyrics, such as the line from “Mouthwash”, ‘And this is my body / And no matter how you try and disable it / Yes I’ll still be here’.

The best thing about ‘Made of Bricks’ is the rollercoaster of emotions you encounter when listening start to finish. There’s really a song for each mood.

You’re dancing to the playful piano and singing along to the humorous, slightly sarcastic, lyrics in “Foundations” such as my favourite, ‘You said I must eat so many lemons cos I am so bitter / I said I’d rather be with your friends, mate, cos they are much fitter’.

Vent out your anger with the moody guitar and dramatic violin in “Dickhead”. The repetitive, slow and solemn beat contrasting with Nash’s strong vocals work really well. “Dickhead” has a different sound to the rest of her album, making this particular track stand out.

Fall in love with “Birds” and “Nicest Thing”, both with dreamy guitar chords and verses filled with romance. “Birds” was originally recorded acoustically but, personally the electric guitar riff in the album works better because it makes the intro sound stronger and more striking.

You totally understood the rebellious vibe in “Mariella”. The stompy percussion and low pitch of the piano throughout the intro creates a moody atmosphere, but skip to 1:13 and Nash’s typical jumpy piano beat returns as the tempo speeds back up.

Finally, along with the lively melody of the piano and catchy lyrics, you’re dramatically belting out “Merry Happy” and “Little Red” – because who doesn’t love a good sing-along?

My most played? It has to be “We Get On”. I love how she tells a story about liking a guy but being too nervous to do anything, and when she does – it’s too late, something we can all relate to. Her bold voice coupled with the captivating narrative retains the listener’s attention, so no turning off early!

Ten years later and Nash is still releasing loud and popular tracks that grab your attention. She has experimented with a variety of sounds since her innocent, sugary “Pumpkin Soup” days: 2013’s ‘Girl Talk’ sees a punky side to her and 2017’s “Agenda” adopts a really interesting electronic sound.

Nash’s live show at The Haunt, Brighton, earlier this year was in such high spirits – it was definitely one to remember. Hearing her recent songs was brilliant, but it was the atmosphere in the crowd when she played her best hits from ‘Made of Bricks’ which made it so memorable. Everyone dancing and singing along together was such a special experience, I just wish I could’ve also experienced her 10th anniversary tour.

This album was an important one for Nash’s musical career and such a sentimental one for her fans. Ten years on I, along with thousands of other fans, can still recite every lyric perfectly which captures how momentous it was for us all growing up.

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