Customer Reviews

Matinee (Bonus CD)

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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.

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.

I discovered Jack Penate on the French show Taratata (you can see it free online a [...]). This album is a good introduction to discover this artist.

There are many key ingredients to having a successful debut album, and on Matinee Jack Penate seems to have included all the best ones.

Through his distinctive voice, with it's regular forays into the falcetto and London twang, and the fast-paced jangly guitars, Penate definitely creates his own sound and makes his songs instantly recognisable. Whilst some might prefer lyrics to be more abstract, Jack's words are more than a little Dylan-esque in their starkness and clarity, if not necessarily in their complexity, particularly when he is busy being observational.

And with a distinctive voice and good lyrics, what more do you need? Well of course, no debut album can truly be a success without great songs. And it is here that Jack Penate really excells. My favourites are the 4, 5, 6 sequence. Torn on the Platform, probably the stand out track and clear choice for first hit single, shows a love for home that anyone can identify with. Next comes Learning Lines, which I first heard when I saw him play in a pub on Pentonville Road two years ago. Learning Lines (particularly in the 'secret' version which comes after the end of the album) is a very distinctive song, especially when placed here amongst the jingle-jangle of most of the rest of the album, and the vocal is brilliant. Probably my favourite song is Run For Your Life which gives us, through an infectious beat and bouncy chorus, a little taste of Jack's views on the more violent aspects of human nature!

All in all, this is an excellent debut, and perhaps the final key ingredient - and one that ensures success - is that it is really enjoyable to listen to. The songs can bounce along in the background or be listened to up close. They are great lound and quiet, and they inevitably bring a smile to my face.

One thing that becomes fairly clear as you listen to this is that Jack Penate has a very bright future ahead of him.

As a debut album goes this is a cracker to start off on!
Penate's tunes are boppy and melodic with the sharp edge of his english accent giving that grittiness that fans of the new age Brit Rock Indie scene love. If your into the likes of Artic Monkeys, the Kooks, Bloc Party and even Jamie T then check out Jack Penate record - Matinee, to give your ears some musical theropy they well and truly deserve.