Jake Bugg / Artist Review

He's the new face of indie-folk and country music, he's attractive and by this time next year the world will have his name up in lights: It's the one and only Nottingham-born Jake Bugg.

An European tour with Micheal Kiwanuka, a USA tour supporting living Oasis legend Noel Gallagher and a 'warm-up act' for the 1980's icons that are just The Stone Roses on their performance at the Adidas' Olympics Party, post-comeback. It's safe to say Jake Bugg's been lavished and pampered with an array of stars to accompany across seas, and in his own right he really does deserve it.

Influenced through the likes of The Beatles and Oasis, a raw influence can be heard weaving it's way through the young prodigy's guitar riffs and brassy vocals, creating a fresh view through simple rhymes and real-life stories. Bugg's definitely the one to watch when it comes to song writing this year.

The lyrics we hear in 'Lightning Bolt' match those of a younger Alex Turner (of Arctic Monkeys) writing about real time issues and his views of a certain situation today. Bearing this in mind; his lyrical messages are far beyond his seventeen years of age - he really is something special: the real deal. The lyrics to country-influenced 'Saffron' for example, have been meshed together perfectly to create a romantic love-song without the usual 'I love you' edge that most musicians today focus on. You can tell he's worked hard to create something unique.

Along with being a fantastic lyricist; Jake Bugg is a new un-discovered fashion icon. Subconsciously Bugg has brought back the classical Harrington jacket. In his simple (but very effective) music videos Bugg can be seen sporting a black Fred Perry Harrington jacket, which were big in the 1960's. Could he be bringing back the Harrington jacket and creating a fashion trend? The voice and the look go hand-in-hand with each other perfectly. Simple polo-shirts with the buttons buttoned to the top, a vintage-looking jacket and a folk guitar to match. It's fair to say that Jake Edwin Kennedy is one of the more fashionable musicians of the generation.

Bugg releases his self-entitled album on the 15th of October 2012; a date teenagers and the older era have marked, circled and crossed in their diary's and waited since his appearance on 'Later...With Jools Holland' in May time.

What can we expect from this debut album? Class. Bugg's elegant vocals and soft guitar playing will melodically entice the listener into a state of relaxation and allow the listener to get inside of the music, literally. Singles 'Lightning Bolt' and 'Two Fingers' will be featured on the album, and if those two are anything to go by; it could become one of the more iconic albums of the year, and definitely one that is going to be in your record collection.

2013 will be the year Jake Bugg rises: just watch this space.

Catch the 'closest thing we'll ever get again to Bob Dylan' on his February 2013 tour of the UK, which includes Newcastles O2 Academy, London Shepherd's Bush Empire and Birmingham's HMV Institute.

Singles 'Lightning Bolt', 'Two Fingers', 'Trouble Town' and 'Country Song' are available to purchase from iTunes now. The self-entitled album is available to pre-order and will be in shops on the 15th of October.

http://jakebugg.com/
Lightning Bolt - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY0oPg1h8fQ