Nerina Pallot - The Graduate review
3 comments | Published by Rach Read |
Every once in a while, along comes an artist who doesn’t make a big song and dance about how talented they are, who isn’t constantly being papped and whose music doesn’t try too hard to be cool or make belated attempts to jump on bandwagons. They plod along quietly, doing their own thing and doing it bloody well, without the masses even batting an eyelid. Nerina Pallot is one such artist and let me tell you something – it’s the masses’ loss. In a big way. Pallot is wonderful and so is The Graduate.
Way back when, we pronounced Pallot’s second album Fires as one of the best of 2006. Three years later, we’re still applauding our judgement and the passing of time has revealed Fires wasn’t just one of our favourite albums of 2006, it’s actually one of our favourites of all-times (it never grows old, remains eternally classy and is just quite stunning). The Graduate doesn’t quite match Fires yet (maybe give it another three years) but it comes close – strong melodies, great vocals and moments of beauty.
Single Real Late Starter sees Pallot practically embracing her status as one of the spear-carriers of the singer-songwriter set, yet never has being a bit of loser sounded so appealing. The chorus is filled with such bounce, stomp and sunshine that the words ‘radio-friendly’ run through it like a stick of rock (and the lyric ‘Oh my God, if I was somebody, you’d be kissing my arse right now’ always makes us smile). The other upbeat numbers are just as fun – album opener Everything’s Illuminated whirls along nicely, I Just Don’t Wanna Go Out has some instantly catchy ooh-ooh-oohs and When Did I Become Such a Bitch lives up to its glorious title.
Pallot doesn’t just excel at the jangly and jazzy though. Cigarette is a dreamy, smoky, sumptuous swirl that’s haunting and evocative enough to be up there with that Teentoday beacon of all things brilliant, Siobhan Donaghy’s Ghosts. Piano-led ballad It Was Me is also simply lovely yet words can barely convey the all-out gorgeousness of It Starts (featuring another series of ooh-ooh-oohs, which are just as brilliant in a totally different way). Pared-down utter beauty, arresting and affecting and as heart-melting as a love song can be. Stunning – lyrically, melodically, vocally, emotionally and any other ‘ly’s you can think of too. [Incidentally, we’ve not even mentioned Pallot’s vocals yet, which are unobtrusively excellent in a way rarely seen these days].
There is nothing contrived about Pallot and that’s what makes her work such a delight. Do yourself (and me!) a favour and stick The Graduate on your Christmas lists. Put Fires on there while you’re at it. You can thank me later.
Is it sad that I know these finger puppets are from Ikea?:
Do you love Nerina like we do?
Catherine Elaine
I remember first discovering Nerina through her “Everybody’s Gone To War” advert that was always on. Whilst it was a great song that intrigued me to the rest of her music, it wasn’t mind blowing. But once I discovered more of her music I fell in love.
Her debut album (before Fires) titled Dear Frustrated Superstar is also beautiful with Blood is Blood being particularly lovely. Fires had Geek Love and Idaho that shone, and whilst I’m yet to purchase The Graduate (On my Christmas list) I’ve listened to a lot of the tracks on youtube and she doesn’t disappoint. I do agree that it doesn’t appear to have quite the impact of Fires or DFS but I can’t help but love anything she produces.
Having seen her live a couple of times, and even met her I know that she’s just as lovely as her music so I agree with Rach; put this CD (or Fires or DFS) on your christmas lists and check Nerina out. She’s playing at the ICA in London early next year too. Go see her! AMAZING.
Woodsie
I love Nerina Pallot, I find it a shame that when I speak to my friends about her they just nod along, and I know they have no idea who I’m speaking about. Her music is beautiful, Idaho and Geek Love are my favourites of hers. She has such a captivating voice. It’s a shame how singing programes like The X Factor are handing out the “stereotypical” singers, when people like Nerina, who are natural singers and songwriters are being pushed into the dark. I hope Nerina rises to the top of the charts again, she’s wonderful!
Catherine Elaine
Having now listened to this album (ALOT) I agree that it’s not like Fires.
It doesn’t have as many hard hitting slow songs. Geek Love, Idaho and Damascus all evoked immediate emotions within me. Nerina seems to have been a little happier when writing this and therefore the general tempo of the album has changed. I do still love the album, I’m just a bit of a sucker for a sad song.
My personal favourite would have to be Coming Home. It’s truly heartfelt. The story of a father/daughter relationship; she sings “I’ll make you proud one day/but I know you’ll love me anyway” and you can tell that this isn’t a song full of over exaggeration and embellishments. It’s her life she’s singing about. And she does know how to sing about it well. Whilst I’m yet to see a live performance of this song, I’ve been told it’s something that should not be missed.
Oh, and anyone who’s a Nerina fan needs to check out her live Monday night ustream performances here: http://www.ustream.tv/nerinapallot Monday nights at 9pm GMT