Jack Garratt is the guy who scored instant success with his debut album Phase. BBC Introducing Artist Of The Year, BBC Sound of 2016, BRIT Awards Critic’s Choice are just some of the important awards he won. He wrote his first song when he was 12 and learned how to play several instruments. In 2012, he tried to record his first album. As he wasn’t satisfied with it, we had to wait until now.
How to explain such an enormous respect both from the critics and the audience. The charts are also singing. To be honest, I am not sure his accomplishments exist outside the United Kingdom. Jack is a young man who has a lot of things to say and it’s almost as he wanted to say it all in this 12 song record.
After numerous festival appearances and the single Worry, we have got Phase. Is it just a phase in his growing pains; the story about passion for music? Maybe he is just conforming to what is mainstream today – indie pop sprinkled with r’n’b and electronic. This mix is not so bad when you listen Phase for the first time, but there is nothing that will get you infected for a long period.
This album is half way between Jake Bugg and Ed Sheeran. It seems like Jack can not decide where does he want to go – towards mainstream or rock?
Tracklist is very messy. There is no core uniting the songs, even though love serves as a main theme. Lyrics are surprisingly mature, but the vocal is a bit irritating. Often use of falsetto is just wrong in this case, especially on a track called The Love You’re Given. I could maybe give it a try on Surprise Your Self, where Jack sounds like he is part of Mumford and Sons. However, I prefer when his voice is clear, as in Breathe Life and previously mentioned Worry. My favorite track from the album is probably Fire. The rest of the album is pretty average.
Why is there so much hype around Jack Garret? I am not sure.
