Product Description

'Matinee' is the debut album from London-based ska-popper Jack Penate. Fusing elements of early Madness and The Housemartins with rockabilly and pure pop, the album is a brilliantdebut that is sure to appeal to fans of bands such as The Kooks and Kate Nash. Includes the singles 'Torn On The Platform', 'Spit At Stars' and 'Second Minute Or Hour'.

Track Listing

1. Spit At Stars
2. Got My Favourite...
3. Have I Been A Fool
4. Torn On The Platform
5. Learning Lines
6. Run For Your Life
7. We Will Be Here
8. Made Of Codes
9. My Yvonne
10. Second Minute Or Hour
11. When We Die

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4054 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-08
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
It’s a bit of a surprise after such an exaggerated run (we’re talking Ministry of Silly Walks standard) of arresting releases, not to mention the wired, enthused judders of his live shows, that chipper songwriter Jack Penate’s debut album is so very reclined. We’re not really saying things are mellow, not much, because Matinee does keep its head above water. But the wholesome Housemartins by Graham Coxon ska-dunked pop giddiness of singles "Second, Minute or Hour" and the fabulous "Spit at Stars", both included here doing something positive with The Libertines’ legacy, are the exception rather than the rule. More typically we’re looking at tunes like "We Will Be Here" (see The Kooks), "Have I Been a Fool?" (Kate Nash) and "Got My Favourite" (unnervingly summery Britpop mascots Dodgy), which explore lonelier themes and are housed in safer musical environments, reverb-soaked strumming and melancholy the order of the day. But then at either far end of the scale we have "Torn on the Platform" tearing up the downhearted foundation with rebellious abandon, covering his full range in the process, and "My Yvonne", a dainty and beautifully introverted four minutes. So it is at least true that he doesn’t much stand still--he covers most bases available to him and he covers them confidently. Given time he might even graduate from the matinee slot. --James Berry

Customer Reviews

LOVE IT
THIS FELLA IS AWESOME - GREAT DANCIN, GREAT CLOBBER, AND AWESOME TUNES. HE MOULDS SOME WICKED 80S/90S SOUNDS AND GIVES IT A MODERN RETRO SOUND! GOOD FUN, AND BLOODY AWESOME LIVE. TOP ALBUM.

A breath of fresh air!
What a great album, haven't been able to stop playing it since I bought it. Seriously upbeat pop/rock, there's not a bad tune on this album. His live persona really comes through in this album.
Keep up the good work!

Ticks all sorts of boxes...
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.