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Album Review: Jake Bugg
Indie | Tuesday 6th November 2012 | Osh
In today’s bleak society manufactured X factor contestants hold a control reminiscent of a totalitarian dictatorship over the charts. It therefore requires something truly extraordinary to topple the charts and rise above the hordes of Cowell’s money-making drones but it takes something even more exceptional to do this whilst standing head and shoulders above these acts and emitting the one key ingredient that many of today’s so called ‘artists’ are missing – authenticity.
It was only the other day I had the misfortune of listening to the ever woeful Radio One when embedded between the dross of Taylor Swift’s awful attempt at a break up song ‘We are never ever getting back together’ and One Directions grotesque reincarnation of a truly classic Clash number ‘Live While You’re Young’, a testimony in itself to the dark depths that is the current state of affairs of popular music, was the ethereal ‘Lightning Bolt’. The tune that saw a teenager from Nottingham skyrocketed into the nation’s attention and into the lovers of rock and roll’s hearts.
Whilst the appearance of Bugg in between such artists may too many appear as a warning signal I believe it instead could just signal the resurgence of pop music as an art form for authentic artists.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing The Vaccines during which the lost art of pop music was discussed, Justin stated ‘I just think people misunderstand what it is to be a pop band and what pop music means’ and for this writer never a truer statement was issued. All of the greats, from Elvis to the Beatles to the Stone Roses, were pop acts but the difference between the greats of old and the current mainstream acts was the authenticity they offered and Bugg has authenticity by the bucket load.
The album is the understated work of a genuine artist, from the straight up foot tapping rock numbers of ‘Lightning Bolt’ and ‘Taste It’ all the way through to the wonderfully touching ‘Country Song’, ‘Ballad of Mr Jones’ and ‘Note to Self’. Bugg showcases his uncanny ability to emotionally convey a voice dripping in pain and genuine authenticity, as well as an incredible song writing ability which unveils it itself in melodies and endless hooks that has seen Bugg compared to the likes of Donovan and Neil Young and held up as this generations Bob Dylan.
Lyrically, Bugg presents a maturity that, similar to his voice, disguises the ridiculous youth of both an artist and an individual only just beginning his journey. Whilst the Dylan comparisons will undoubtedly continue, Bugg offers a modern insight which is perhaps more similar to the early works of Turner or Jamie Treays. Bugg often reveals an insight into just how small his world is so far in ‘Two Fingers’ and a longing for escape in the majestic ‘Trouble Town’. A number which will resonate with every product of concrete jungles and street urchins worldwide. ‘Stuck in speed bump city / where the only things that pretty / is the thought of getting out’ entices rebellious feelings of youth and permissiveness, and a longing to escape from the blandness of his surroundings to something better – a perfect example of the escapism Bugg offers from other bleak chart artists.
One thing is certain Bugg will have no problems getting out of anywhere after an album as brilliant as this, and without wanting to put any more pressure on the shoulders of the young songwriter, it’s only so long before we see if he can signal the return of authenticity to pop music.
By Joe Longhurst @JoeLonghurst1
