ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Jack Sharp — Rock Is The Treasure
Anglesey’s Jack Sharp is surely one of North Wales’ more complex and intense solo artists. A firm favourite with Radio Wales’ Adam Walton he has built up a huge Myspace following over the last couple of years in spite of the fact that his live performances are rarer than a happy hardcore track that isn’t total shit.

Rock Is The Treasure is Jack’s long-awaited debut album release and it’s great to see that the DIY ethic is still alive and kicking in the bleak spiritual home of the druids. Jack’s unique talent is certainly in overdrive on this 15-song album which is as raw and stripped-down as it gets. Jack’s pronounced Anglesey drawl is perfectly suited to the material he writes — sounding like a Welsh version of Mark E Smith and singing lyrics which at times are equally as wry, perceptive and amusing as his Punk Godfather mentor. Patrick Fitzgeraldesque songs like Mike Frog sit perfectly with powerful drum-backed Fall-influenced tracks such as Halleluiah — which is my personal favourite.

Accompanying the album release is a limited-edition dvd of one of his rare live performances — this one taking place in early 2008 at The Vic, Menai Bridge, supporting Bent Moustache. All things considered there’s only one word to describe Rock Is The Treasure — smashing — and I look forward to Mr Sharp’s next release.

The album is available on iTunes and via Jack’s website at www​.myspace​.com/​j​a​c​k​sharp