Search - Jack Penate :: Matinee

British Rockabilly.

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 02/11/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"UK singer Jack Penate burst onto the music scene in 2007 with his upbeat bass driven rockabilly sound, bouncy "Spit at stars" (with his pronounced English accent) being a fine example of his style. This sets the pace for most of the album; "Have I been a fool?", the ska-tinged "Torn on the platform" (a UK #7), the Motown feel of "Run for your life" (which wouldn't sound out of place on fellow Brits The Kooks CD), the jangly pair of "Got my favourite" and "Made of codes", and the incredibly catchy retro sounding "Second, minute or hour" (great guitar riff, set to a bouncy beat).



On the ballad side of things, there's the soulful "Learning lines" (with nice harmonies), "We will be there", "My Yvonne" (done in a vulnerable falsetto, with best mate Adele providing backing vocals), and the brief but very nice acoustic "When we die" (with choral harmonies) with a faint whiff of The Beatles. Tacked at the end is a hidden track, a lovely sparse acoustic version of "Learning lines" (which I prefer to the fuller version).



Lots of critics had a go at this album (what do they know), but it's sunny, skiffle guitar filled, sing-along music, very well done too. If you like this, you might also like UK indie band The Coral."

45 Minutes of Fantastic!

Brittany Rose | Winnipeg, MB | 02/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first day I listened to this CD, someone asked me what Jack Penate sounded like, and I honestly couldn't think of another artist he sounds like...I randomly came across Penate on an album that featured a live version of "Second, Minute or Hour" and fell completely in love. To describe his sound, you should know first and foremost that he is VERY VERY British - he's one of the few artists that have a very strong, identifiable accent when they sing, but it's to his advantage in making him that much more unique.



So what does Penate sound like? He's a mixture of The Kooks, McFly, Jack Johnson, Jamie Cullum 1950's/60's rock & roll pop, and Jose Gonzalez on speed, with hints of reggae, chill out, and folk thrown in. If it sounds like a weird combination, well it is, but it works insanely well...



The album is short and flies by with every listen, but every song packs a unique punch, from the upbeat "Spit at Stars" & aforementioned "Second, Minute or Hour" to the strummy "Got My Favourite..." and tropical-infused "Have I Been A Fool?". There are some slower tunes including the soulful "Learning Lines", the airy "My Yvonne" and the closing tune "When We Die" (very Jose Gonzalez) - but every song on this album brings a smile to my face and makes me want to sing (and bop my head) along to the music.



I would seriously recommend this album to anyone interested in the alt-rock/brit pop/indie rock/folk pop scene out there - Penate is a mix of them all and does it with such a flourish I guarantee you'll be hooked after one song - I certainly was!



Also the bonus CD is a nice touch given I was first introduced to Penate through an acoustic version of Second, Minute or Hour - it's surprising how good the songs are with just a guitar & vocals, showing the strength of Penate as a songwriter, a singer, and an instrumentalist."