After debuting in 2007 with the U.K. number one
Made of Bricks, irreverent popsmith
Kate Nash diverged from that album's often staccato, piano-centric sound into vibrant neo-soul for her follow-up. She switched gears again to grittier indie rock on her third studio LP,
Girl Talk. Inspired by revisiting diaries from her teens, 2018's
Yesterday Was Forever revisits the past in more ways than one, favoring her debut's more efficient, bubbly pop while still incorporating other stylistic interests, including heavier synths, at least on some tracks. Exasperated opener "Life in Pink" pits catchy guitar riffs and sparkling keys against half-shouted lyrics about struggles with mental health, frustrated love, and heart-shaped glasses ("I'm not like the other girls/Don't get me started"). "Drink About You" takes on a more driving arena rock, while the track "Karaoke Kiss" inhabits a borderline synth pop. Those fond of
Nash's spoken word entries will appreciate "Musical Theatre," a dramatic monologue about, essentially, finding inner strength when overwrought. With only spare guitar accompaniment, the likewise confessional "Today" rattles off the possibilities of a new day with candid lyrics like "Maybe today when I go out, it will feel different/And I won't be scared at all" and "I don't wanna always have to try." Though not always that personal, the entire album has this type of emotional honesty, however bouncy the songs. That alone adds weight to the sometimes brash, often sassy tracks, and brings a maturity to the songwriting that may seem at odds with the album's concept. Listeners put off by
Nash's cheekiness in the past may find her more relatable here, or at least more compelling, though
Yesterday Was Forever still refuses to pander. ~ Marcy Donelson