CocknBullKid- Adulthood (album stream link).

In 2007 I was immediately blown away by Anita Blay aka CocknBullKid. I heard On My Own and I felt something utterly indescribable. Since then, the odd song has appeared on the internet- singles/EPs.

Seeing her support Marina last year and being right at the front was a glorious feeling, after her performance I was lucky enough to interview her. She is one of the most hard-working artists in the UK right now. She is so talented and beautiful. The way she can sing the most painfully heartbreaking and honest lyrics over the most cheerful beats make her approachable.

She has had the Morrissey comparisons with her wonderfully cynical lyrics, and this is one of the many reasons as to why I love her.

You know when you find an artist you just latch onto before they are signed, and they get signed and you observe this buzz surround them. You see them become the star you knew they would be and deserve to be? That’s exactly what has happened here.

So, finally her album is here. Adulthood, in short, is bloody brilliant. You will want to dance, you will want to shut the world off and listen to the lyrics, you will want to cry- you will feel so many things. It’s just stunning.

I had every bit of faith that Anita would create a killer album. Did I think I think she would create the album of the year? Well considering I’ve sworn that The Kills have put the album of the year out- Anita has most certainly set the bar here.

Listening to it, it is hard to believe it is only her debut full length album. There are no fillers here; it’s just perfect from start to finish. I am not just saying this because I am a massive fan. Even if I knew nothing about her music, I would still hold this opinion. There is something about her voice that makes every part of you feel like you are alive. The album makes you feel alive. It wakes up that part of you that has been bored to tears from the mundane sounds of commercial radio.

I could quite easily sit here and type out the reasons as to why I love every single song on Adulthood. However, it’d just turn into some massive fan girl piece and I’d sound odd. I love how vulnerable each and every song is. Lyrics are a huge thing for me, and yes, here comes a Morrissey bit. This is why I love Anita- her words. How she puts across heartbreak and the like is just so gorgeous but at the same time it oozes vulnerability- just like Morrissey. So open and honest.

Dumb is my favourite. After playing the album over and over- Dumb has claimed a piece a part of my heart. It’s over 5 minutes of, “Bloody hell…who let Anita into my head.” To be honest, that’s how I feel about most of the songs here. Every single track feels like a diary entry, and that is why her songs are so easy to relate to. Every so often an artist comes along that can just seep into your mind and speak what you feel in your heart. For me, that artist is Anita.

I know I’m a sorry excuse for a Music Journalist by being so personal here, but her music has been there for many good and bad things since I discovered her music. From a shitty (when are the not) break-up to being miserable about well…life I suppose, her music has been a bit like a crutch. I’ve got certain artists I go to when everything seems a bit toss, and CocknBullKid is one of them. To some it seems like an insane thing to say, but she is almost like a female Morrissey. Well, to me she is anyway.

When I first heard CocknBullKid and Hold Onto Your Misery, it just sparked something. I’m not entirely sure what- all I know it was a bloody good feeling. Lines such as “The mouth is a trap, whatever I say I can’t take back.” Just made me nod in agreement. I probably swore out of joy too.

Hold Onto Your Misery is a personal favourite. Every single word sung hit me right in the gut. I cannot pick one line; the whole song is just perfect. “You’re most alive when nearest death.” When you know something shite is going to happen, you just feel much more alive. For me, I hate the fact I write more/better when I feel like shit- when everything is awful.

“Hold onto your misery. I need it, and it needs me.” Thing is, sadness and misery are two feelings that are more than likely consistent in us humans. Nobody is ever truly 100% happy, you always want more. I don’t think by nature I am a happy person. I’m content- but not happy. For me, that’s enough. I think misery is a feeling some of us need to embrace more and not be afraid of. That is why I love this song so much. It is okay to be insecure; it is okay to be miserable. “A little cynicism will do you good.” I love that line with every bone in my body. It’s just so wonderfully accurate.

“I’m all dressed up, nowhere to go.” Yellow is another stunner of a track. I hope she releases it as a single. The video would be amazing. Although, if everyone was dressed in yellow- it may cause migraines.

I just want to write so many pages as to why this album is out of this world. She’s supporting Duran Duran on their UK Tour, Anita is living the dream!I am fully aware that this has turned into a rant as to why I love her music and not an in-depth review of her album. You don’t need me to tell you how amazing it is, go listen to it. Find out for yourself.