It’s almost coincidental, like an inevitable chain reaction. In an age where the music industry seems to be one giant commercial generator; pumping out egotistical and phony pop stars, there has always been one subtle reminder of a historic genre that has somewhat evaporated into thin air. Blur, Oasis and the Arctic Monkeys reminded everyone of the glory days when Brit Rock ruled supreme and now it’s the turn of one pre-pubescent teenager to rock the modern foundations of the industry. Step forward Jake Bugg.
Fresher than a cup of grounded coffee on a rich Sunday morning comes the Nottingham teen’s self titled debut album, a country/acoustic record that makes Ed Sheeran look like a lost soul at a rock show.
Bugg’s contagious vocals are parallel to that of one Bob Dylan, it’s uncanny. The 14-track record combines Bugg’s inimitable voice with the guitar resonances that reflect the many influences that has dominated the teen’s early years.
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| GOING PLACES- Jake is about to hit road with his idle Noel Gallagher |
At times I thought I was listening to Donavon or Don McLean, as tracks like Country Song and Some Place sound idyllic to that of infamous Country legends. Bugg delicately plucks his guitar with such care and elegance, complimenting the serene resonances of his acoustic guitar with his malleable voice.
Bugg turns it up to eleven with Lightning Bolt and Taste It, tracks that give the record the venom that it desires. Taste It in particular gives the album the justice it deserves, giving off vibes that can only be found at a boozy barn dance on a Saturday night.
For a debut album, it seems too good to be true. Yes it sounds like a northern Bob Dylan. Yes it sounds like a lunch service at Frankie and Benny’s. But likewise with the Arctic Monkeys and the Libertine’s debut albums, it provides the UK with a new fresh angle for the industry to thrive off of. Bugg’s adolescence does not reflect on his song-writing, as he resolutely pulls apart common social conventions and serenades the listener as though he’s “seen it all”. An album to define a decade: no. An album to ruffle a few feathers: Certainly.
