Natty - 'July'
I've a guilty confession to make, and it's a bad one. Listening to this song has forced me to confront an unpleasant truth which I didn't even know was hidden away in my psyche, and so I should really begin by saying that if anyone is offended by anything in this review, I apologise. I'm trying to be honest, in the hope it will turn out to be in any way helpful.
Anyway, the truth I mentioned is this: If I didn't aleady know what Natty looks like...in fact, let me be clearer...if I thought Natty looked like a white surf dude - Newton Faulkner or Jack Johnson, for example - I think I would probably like this song less than I do.
Isn't that rubbish? I mean, music exists entirely in a sense arena which cannot process physical appearance, and if you're settling down to enjoy a nice song, it should make very little difference what the people who made that song look like. That's not just a colour issue either, you'll notice that very very few of the people who appear in the Top 40 have been so much a touched by the ugly stick, or are (heaven forbid) in any way disabled.
But there's something about this specific sound, this sort of bouncy, reggae-tinged folky pop which seems to be a little more believeable coming from Natty than it does from, say, Jack Johnson. Which can only mean one of two things. Either I have an irrational prejudice against handsome surf dudes with whispery voices (and Newton Faulkner), or Natty is actually just, y'know, really good, in a way which could be measured by science.
And to be fair, part of this reason this works is to do with the lyric, which is every bit as cute a trip down memory lane as Kid Rock's song, and seems to contain a similar level of bad behaviour. It's that mix of naughtiness and sun-bleached happiness which really makes this take off. That and a chorus you could hang your coat on.
BUT it still sounds a lot like a Jack Johnson sort of a song. And if Jack or any of his friends - Donavon Frankenreiter, G-Love - had attempted the rootsy scat breakdown Natty does instead of a third verse, I would probably have mocked them from here until the end of all things. But because Natty LOOKS rootsy, it's somehow OK. And that's not good.
It means, to my eternal shame, I have to admit to officially being a surfist. And for that I really am truly sorry. I will try to be a better person in future.
Oh, one last thing. "July was a lovely year"? I think you'll find, Mr Natty, that the word you're looking for is MONTH.
Download: Out now
CD Released: July 28th
(Fraser McAlpine)
PS: Having said all that, at least I didn't do what the Mirror did and call him a "rapper". Funny things, assumptions, eh?
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