★★★★
With two albums under his belt, 22-year-old Jake Bugg is already a veteran of the music business.
His third record, On My One, comes three years after the release of Shangri La. And for an artist who seemed to catapult fully and precociously formed from nowhere back in 2012, it’s a delight to see him once again flexing his songwriting muscles. Sure, his signature world-weary lyrics return, as do his indie-folk, Bob Dylan-esque tumbles on the guitar, but so do a fresh sense of vulnerability and a willingness to experiment.
Recorded in London, LA and his hometown of Nottingham, On My One takes it name from the despondence-dripping opening track. “On my one” is apparently a uniquely Nottingham phrase meaning “on my own’” and perfectly apt given that it’s the first time Bugg has written the songs entirely by himself and also produced a number. However, it is difficult to take him seriously when he croons, “I’m just a poor boy from Nottingham / I had my dreams, but in this world they’re gone”. This uncharacteristic misstep is quickly forgotten, the music is just so toe-tappingly good.
On My One is a compelling return to form by a true songwriting talent.
