Before I start with my review I’d like to underline that I have not written a Lilly Allen – Kate Nash comparison because they are simply two completely different singers. The only thing which is kinda similar is their accent and some sorts of instruments but the music has a truly different origin.
So let’s start, the songs are in the order as on the album.
Kate Nash at Liquid Room – Scotland on 23/08/07:
© Some rights reserved by Flickr user “Xfm Scotland”
Play – This one is my personal favorite because it is deeply honest and triggers many different emotions although the lyrics part of the song isn’t that interesting. Whenever the lyrics aren’t important then the music must be way better to convince as a whole. I think Kate Nash has done that in her first song of that album which I personally recommend as a starting point to listen to Kate Nash. The exaggerated drums carry you along, deep into the song where you can hear the bass melody. As a prove that the drums really lead you on the way through the song they begin to fade out at the end of the song as if to say that the emotions are over but you are well aware now of the style Kate Nash uses and you can begin with the album. One could call it an intro song but since Kate didn’t do that we must think of something else. *****
Foundations (Full Version) – The song “Foundations” is the best known and most downloaded song by Kate Nash. So it was also written for a mass public. As many very popular songs, also that one puts you off one day. Even if it’s not the best song on the album in terms of music, it tells us a distinctive story. So in exchange to “Play”, take a look at the lyrics. I can guarantee you that it’s much better and more authentic than the music itself. ****
Mouthwash – Mouthwash is, as Kate Nash describes it, some kind of a “protest song”. The lyrics lack a bit of credibility at first but the song is a strong commitment to individuality as it is rarely seen and heard today. So the title fits in that scheme, mouthwash is something boring, ordinary and intimate but it has a great importance on the outer appearance of a person. Maybe it also plays with the idea that many young people are insecure, especially with their own body (freckles 
) and hygiene. The music is, as many of Kate’s songs, led by a piano melody but this time her voice and the lyrics are more important so it’s also easier to follow the texts. ****
Dickhead – In this song the lyrics and the music both are very monotonous, so there’s almost no melody except a repeating note sequence. The lyrics describe a person who is bullheaded but it’s a girl and not a boy, as Kate assures. I don’t like this song at all; other people can do something with it, me certainly not. *
Birds – The music of “Birds” sounds a bit like a strong and deep country song by Sheryl Crow. That means in general it’s happy with some little bass “discords” in the background. Since many songs by Sheryl Crow create the spirit of yearning in my opinion also that one does (I cannot prove that…). The text of two young lovers who meet on a station “fly away” together in love. There, the element of yearning reappears which is very present in youth. It’s not my favourite but this time the idea behind it is very clear. ***
We Get On – Although the melody of that one is cheerful, the song itself ends in a real tragedy. It’s the story of a girl who’s not able to express her love to the boy she wants; she’s too shy to do that. One day on a party she sees him kissing another girl. Then of course, the feelings for him are definitely over except one hope, that they could get on. “We Get On” is a fluffy song with a really sad topic. The music is great, especially because it follows the story (at the end you can hear some kind of long “frustration cries”). That makes the song balanced and easy to listen to. ****
Mariella - This song is I think about self-confidence and Mariella is something like an idol because she never says a word and the aim is to not always burst out with your own opinion. Mariella doesn’t have any friends because she is “strange” for the girls and not interesting to the boys “at that age”. So she is in a way an outsider with a special way to live. And that’s why other students also want to be like her – sometimes. I think “Mariella” is a fantastic song; it’s fun to listen to the repeating words “eva, eva…” because Kate’s accent stands really out here. Also, her special way of singing some words shows the real Kate Nash style. *****
Shit song – As the song promises, it is quite shitty , but in a positive way. I think it should provoke in a way and it does that. So it’s awesome to listen to it just cause you cannot class it… it’s pure Kate. And for that reason it deserves: *****
Pumpkin Soup - One could describe that song as a sequel to the song “We Get On” but that time the girl finally manages to get a boyfriend; it’s also a bit stronger than “We Get On”, especially when she asks the boy for a kiss. So it’s more optimistic and almost tilts to the other extreme of too much closeness. The music could be better because it’s again a bit monotonous but the song can convince even without the melody. ****
Skeleton Song – This track tells the story of an artificial skeleton somewhere in a girl’s room. I like the preciseness of describing what a skeleton has and hasn’t, something you never think about. When I first listened to the song I thought she would describe a real skeleton of her own body but then I read somewhere that this was not the case. It would have been too heavy because at the end the skeleton gets smashed… Summary: Weird but awesome. *****
Nicest Thing – This is one of the few very sad songs. It consists mainly of wishes to a friend but somehow the insecurity comes up once again; is the love to the friend really real? What I appreciate is the quality of the music (nice violin and guitar play) and the interlude; a violin tremolo is the trigger for a last statement. ****
Merry Happy – The final track on the album is fantastic. I’ve got the impression that Kate wanted to show a ripening over the whole album. “Merry Happy” ends the album with more mature thoughts; the insecurity has almost gone. It’s okay to be alone; one doesn’t have to be ashamed at all. The piano again plays an important role and it has also the “last word” because it fades out gently at the end and allows the listener to handle the music that he has just listened to. *****
Summary: This album must clearly not be underestimated. It’s a very mature one and it describes the youth with all its discomfort but also advantages. It doesn’t say which kind of living is right; that decision is up to you.
Final rating: 
***** = a dream! / **** = excellent / *** = quite good / ** = could be better… / * = no way!
Visit Kate Nash’s website: http://katenash.co.uk/
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