Kate Nash: Made of Bricks

Label: Interscope

Twenty-year-old Kate Nash took the U.K. by storm last year with her debut album, a delightful collection of pop songs overflowing with personality and wit. Armed with a piano and a drum machine, a history of bad relationships, a great voice, and a really cute accent (not to mention a foul mouth), Nash explores the minutiae of life and relationships with humor and insight. She traces the crumbling of a relationship on the irresistibly infectious single “Foundations,” and then tries to convince herself that she can be alone on the peppy but bittersweet “Merry Happy.” Along the way, she makes time for a charming rumination on life’s mundane details (“Mouthwash”), a delicate, country-tinged song (“Birds”), and a big, breezy number driven by classic R&B-style horns (“Pumpkin Soup”). Lily Allen and Regina Spektor comparisons aside, Made of Bricks is the work of a unique and exciting new talent. (Kiri)