The House That Jack Built is the third studio album by singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop. It was released in June 2012 on the Bella Union label and on Last Laugh Records.
Background Following on from the previous album, The House That Jack Built was written by Hoop at home in the UK and subsequently recorded at Tony Berg's Zeitgeist studio in Los Angeles. In an interview with John Freeman for The Quietus, Hoop explained that,"Initially, I sent the songs as raw material with my own performance and vocals, so they could stretch me in whatever direction. The track ‘The House That Jack Built’ was amended by Blake, the guitarist, and it’s actually a co-write – as is ‘Pack Animal’."
Both the title track and "DNR" are dedicated to Hoop's father, who's passing a year earlier inspired the deeply personal tracks. In the same interview Hoop mentioned that, "While the circumstances are specific and the details are idiosyncratic to my own experience, the foundations of the songs are universal...shared by millions...and worthy of asking people to listen".
Kevin Harley for the BBC music wrote, "Hoop’s third album repeats her second’s tricks, only more so: broader, friskier and sharper, its earthy and mercurial spins on alt-folk brim with charisma, feeling and fecund reserves of imagination".
In 2021, Hoop released The Deconstruction of Jack's House, an acoustic version of songs from The House That Jack Built.
Track listing
Chart performance The House That Jack Built reached the following chart position: Chart (2012)PeakpositionUK Independent Albums18
Personnel All personnel credits adapted from The House That Jack Builts sleeve notes.
Vocals – Jesca Hoop Additional vocals – Nicole Eva Emery Guitars – Jesca Hoop, Blake Mills
Technical personnel
Engineering – Shawn Everett Production – Shawn Everett, Blake Mills, Tony Berg Recording, mixing and mastering – Shawn Everett Additional recording – Tony Berg, Paul Mortlock, Lionel Darenne
Design
Photography – Aga Dibiec, Beth Hoeckel Layout – Melanie Knott, Tash Willcocks Contributions by Cornelia Irmen
References