ALBUM REVIEW: Jake Bugg - A Modern Day Distraction

Earlier this month, Nottingham's Indie icon Jake Bugg released his sixth album ‘A Modern Day Distraction’, a deep dive into his original Bluesy Indie-Rock genre displayed on his debut self-titled album. This sixth run seems to have an added maturity gripping you with consistent emotional storytelling and captivating narrative, navigating the social climate of today with a voice crafted for authentic Country and Blues.

Photo credit: Kevin Westenberg

The album opens with ‘Zombieland’. The quick and precise drumming alongside an earthy and raw guitar riff creates a grounded and organic feel for the start of the album. Jake's story-telling lyrics on leaving his past behind create the perfect momentum for the first track, pulling us into the album ahead. 

Nicely following is ‘All Kinds Of People’ which demonstrates the importance of relatability from artist to audience. As the previous song illustrates, the past and a more personal anecdote to Jake himself, ‘All Kinds Of People’ reminds us as we deliberate between the infinite pathways of life that we cannot hold ourselves to ‘right and wrong’. 

‘I Wrote the Book’ is a sure highlight on the album. Jake pays homage to his Folk influences with cheerful acoustic chords and a Country-tinged approach to singing. Despite being bedded on an uplifting tune, on a deeper listen, the lyrics transform the song to be totally poignant and stirring. He retells the life of a man with "years etched on his face" and the chorus concludes that "you gotta live your life before you’re dead and gone", and totally grounds us in the emotional story told in the album. 

‘Still Got Time’ rounds up the album beautifully. Jake effortlessly carries out an Oasis style instrumental, bolstered by a hearty bassline which supports his vocals nicely. He creates an earworm with this chorus, a perfect blend of release and closure in the album, leaving us in the perfect frame of satisfaction coming away from the album.

Jake Bugg cleverly uses his narratives within the album to tell us stories as he creates the soundtrack to them, an immersive experience with structured flow. His shifting moods take us through a variety of emotional landscapes within his record which his perhaps his most well crafted yet.