I think one insight here may be dead-on: the mistaken idea that Kate Nash is/was dating JP is likely coloring your impressions on Matinee ;-) ;-)
(Since arriving on the scene last summer at 19, she's been dating The Cribs' Ryan Jarman.)
JP has been collegial & supportive of other young artists -- yes, including Kate but more notably Adele, who appeared on nearly every UK & NY tastemaker list tipping artists to watch in 2008. She was also just added to the Coachella lineup. (www.myspace.com/adelelondon)
I totally get a performer's affect obscuring the music -- I picked up JaimeT's album at the Crocodile (r.i.p.) show last fall, liked the tracks I'd heard on radio, was impressed by his acoustic instudio at KEXP. But then was turned off by how wasted he was later at the show that evening & thus refused to listen to it until recently.
On the strength of the singles alone (Torn on the Platform; the heartfelt Have I Been A Fool?; Second, Minute or Hour; Spit at Stars), Matinee is a strong debut effort. The jangly-happy music may not be my fave genre, but Jack Penate is a crowdpleaser & is going to be around for awhile in UK pop.
Reviews
JessicaSeattle said on March 26, 2008:
I think one insight here may be dead-on: the mistaken idea that Kate Nash is/was dating JP is likely coloring your impressions on Matinee ;-) ;-)
(Since arriving on the scene last summer at 19, she's been dating The Cribs' Ryan Jarman.)
JP has been collegial & supportive of other young artists -- yes, including Kate but more notably Adele, who appeared on nearly every UK & NY tastemaker list tipping artists to watch in 2008. She was also just added to the Coachella lineup. (www.myspace.com/adelelondon)
I totally get a performer's affect obscuring the music -- I picked up JaimeT's album at the Crocodile (r.i.p.) show last fall, liked the tracks I'd heard on radio, was impressed by his acoustic instudio at KEXP. But then was turned off by how wasted he was later at the show that evening & thus refused to listen to it until recently.
On the strength of the singles alone (Torn on the Platform; the heartfelt Have I Been A Fool?; Second, Minute or Hour; Spit at Stars), Matinee is a strong debut effort. The jangly-happy music may not be my fave genre, but Jack Penate is a crowdpleaser & is going to be around for awhile in UK pop.