These young upstarts that I have up until now avoided called The Click Five do an okay version of "So It Goes." I never realized before that it sounds like "The 59st Street Bridge Song" and then like "Georgy Girl."
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Sunday, 16 September 2007 05:52 (sixteen years ago) link
I never really made the connection before but Nick was really channeling rockabilly and doo-wop on his first two records, which I suppose fits as aspect of the punk ethos of returning rock to it's primal period.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 27 January 2011 23:49 (thirteen years ago) link
anyone buy the new comp?
― Rich Lolwry (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 27 January 2011 23:53 (thirteen years ago) link
whoa just listening to him when I saw this. and again thinking that "I love the sound of breaking glass" sounds exactly like Phoenix, or at least the first couple of phoenix records
― Dominique, Thursday, 27 January 2011 23:58 (thirteen years ago) link
So you're saying I don't need Phoenix records when Nick's already done it so well? "Big Kick, Plain Scrap", goddamn the drums just rule...
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 28 January 2011 00:48 (thirteen years ago) link
"...Breaking Glass" is one of the few in-jokes that works on its own terms. So silly!
― Rich Lolwry (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 28 January 2011 02:35 (thirteen years ago) link
otm re sounding like template for phoenix there.
― end aggro business now (Hunt3r), Friday, 28 January 2011 04:54 (thirteen years ago) link
Phoenix?
Funny, was just thinking last night about when I met him. We had a bit of a discussion about "Nutted by Reality", re the "Castrated Castro" bit.
― Mark G, Friday, 28 January 2011 09:40 (thirteen years ago) link
recent research reveals that i like brinsley schwarz better than solo nick - silver pistol LP is classic
― communist kickball (m coleman), Friday, 28 January 2011 10:17 (thirteen years ago) link
Many of the songs on Pure Pop/Jesus of Cool are take away from other songs. "Music for Money" is a rip of 10cc's "Art For Art's Sake". "So it Goes" takes the verses from Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years". "Nutted by Reality" is very similar to "I Want You Back" (at least, the bass line is). There are a few more examples mentioned upthread. I think this was kind of the point of the album and I can't deny how great it turned out. His later releases are kind of naff. Nick the Knife is great. Abominable Showman has some good songs...all the other albums up to Party of One are baaaarf
― frogbs, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:37 (thirteen years ago) link
"No Reason" had bit(s) from "All along the watchtower"
― Mark G, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:41 (thirteen years ago) link
Labour of Lust to be released in deluxe fashion by Yep Roc Records on March 15.
― Jazzbo, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:45 (thirteen years ago) link
"Nutted by Reality" is very similar to "I Want You Back" (at least, the bass line is).
― Never Make Your Moog Too Soon (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 28 January 2011 15:51 (thirteen years ago) link
Damn stingy extras on the LoL reissue. Just the one b-side? Pfft!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 28 January 2011 18:29 (thirteen years ago) link
"Endless Gray Ribbon"? "Basing Street"?
― Never Make Your Moog Too Soon (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 28 January 2011 19:07 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, and they've called it a "deluxe" edition!
― Mark G, Saturday, 29 January 2011 00:15 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0l3QWUXVho
― Roadside Prisunic (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 6 December 2012 01:52 (eleven years ago) link
How is the box set? Is there anything critical missing?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 6 December 2012 03:12 (eleven years ago) link
Going to see him again tonight. Anyone know who's been opening for him on this tour? Hope he plays this one — my fav.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUHWh810L0M
― Jazzbo, Saturday, 17 August 2013 14:00 (ten years ago) link
Never mind. Looks like it will be Kim Richey. Was hoping for Bill Kirchen like last time. He was awesome.
― Jazzbo, Saturday, 17 August 2013 14:04 (ten years ago) link
He did play "Half a Boy and Half a Man" last night and didn't even bother dedicating it to the POTUS.
I know he's past 70 but the tempos were a little slow for my taste, even w/ Los Straitjackets.
― ice cream social justice (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 6 August 2017 14:52 (six years ago) link
I was hoping that he and/or the band would cut loose on "I Knew the Bride" but I didn't mind the stateliness overall.
― Elvis Telecom, Sunday, 6 August 2017 17:48 (six years ago) link
Love stately Nick Lowe. Perfect songs.
― Eazy, Sunday, 6 August 2017 19:00 (six years ago) link
mea culpa, he aint 70 yet
― ice cream social justice (Dr Morbius), Monday, 7 August 2017 03:03 (six years ago) link
Yeah, he's just been grey/white headed for 30+ years.
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 7 August 2017 04:16 (six years ago) link
Think the last time I saw him was a decade ago at The Supper Club
― Barkis Garvey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 7 August 2017 04:30 (six years ago) link
It was the tour with Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham opening, so make that two decades. Time wounds all heels.
― Barkis Garvey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 7 August 2017 04:47 (six years ago) link
Dud.
Pub-rock cobblers.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Monday, 7 August 2017 06:14 (six years ago) link
Weird comment.
Anyway, nice new interview here:
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/nick-lowe-talks-peace-love-and-understanding-johnny-cash-1202481424/
― heaven parker (anagram), Monday, 7 August 2017 09:54 (six years ago) link
― Elvis Telecom, Sunday, August 6, 2017
A friend who saw him a few years back grumbled that he didn't rock out at all. I guess he's moved on from that.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 15:44 (six years ago) link
He's been moved on from that for decades now.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 15:45 (six years ago) link
Hasn't cut loose on "I Knew The Bride" since about 1978 sadly.
― everything, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 18:10 (six years ago) link
At least he didn't go the route of making alt-country children's music, like some.
― Barkis Garvey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 8 August 2017 18:24 (six years ago) link
Really want to read the Will Birch bio.
― Irae Louvin (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 16 November 2019 04:29 (four years ago) link
Last time he cut loose on stage was probably when he was alongside Elvis Costello.
― Mark G, Saturday, 16 November 2019 18:04 (four years ago) link
Happy Birthday!
― Mardi Gras Mambo Sun (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 24 March 2022 19:12 (two years ago) link
love
― three of the doctor's valuable bats are now dead (broom air), Friday, 25 March 2022 15:48 (two years ago) link
A low-key favorite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHZzdHHLiTo
― deep luminous trombone (Eazy), Friday, 25 March 2022 15:49 (two years ago) link
I actually just found a good $3 copy of Nick the Knife. forgot how good that record is...the dodgy stuff comes after. idk when is a good time to get back on the bus though. I've heard "Impossible Bird" but I don't remember a thing about it.
but yeah - "Raining Raining" on Nick the Knife is such a great tune. its something McCartney could've wrote
― frogbs, Friday, 25 March 2022 15:58 (two years ago) link
"The Convincer" wouldn't be a bad place to test the waters IMO, it's appropriately named.
I drove through Indian Queens lately, it's in Cornwall and really not very attractive.
― Tim, Friday, 25 March 2022 16:05 (two years ago) link
Nick the Knife was weird. Believe it came shortly after Rockpile broke up iirc, so there was a little bit of a letdown and loss of momentum, but yeah, probably not that bad in retrospect.
― Mardi Gras Mambo Sun (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 25 March 2022 16:10 (two years ago) link
Ahh nice I think I actually spotted The Convincer in the used section, if it's still there I'll pick it up
kinda dig a (semi) famous musician letting his hair go white like that. I feel like I'm headed in that same direction by the time I'm that age.
Nick the Knife is all over the place but song for song it's pretty strong. IMO it's got more memorable tunes than the next 4 or 5 albums combined. he's such a cornball lyrically though
― frogbs, Friday, 25 March 2022 16:14 (two years ago) link
OTM. Seems like he got less and less interesting until the "comeback" of Party of One.
― Mardi Gras Mambo Sun (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 25 March 2022 16:17 (two years ago) link
I take it back, sort of. Really, really like Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit.
― Mardi Gras Mambo Sun (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 25 March 2022 16:18 (two years ago) link
xxxp Not bad, it's got some highlights like a good version of "Heart" (not better than Rockpile's but for a stripped down solo recording, it's very good) and "Stick It Where the Sun Don't Shine" is a great rip-off of the "Green River" guitar riff.
Rose of England is a favorite, and hilariously the one track I never liked (the inferior re-make of "I Knew the Bride") convinced the label to put it out. IIRC they rejected the album for having no hit singles, then Huey Lewis (a good guy even if his records aren't) got the idea of producing "I Knew the Bride" and sticking it on there, believing it will sell the album. Lowe was deeply skeptical, especially since the song was about seven years old at that point, but Lewis said something like "who plays it though? Great record but not a lot of people know it, so let's do it." And he was right!
I like it more than Party of One, but both are pretty good albums. Impossible Bird is probably his best once since Jesus of Cool and Labour of Lust - I always got the impression it was the first one in a long time (maybe ever) where he seriously didn't care about making $ and just did something he'd enjoy without any commercial considerations, thanks to that Bodyguard money.
― birdistheword, Friday, 25 March 2022 19:19 (two years ago) link
I bought Party of One as a boomer-friendly teen in 1990 and...didn't get it. Still don't. The Dave Edmunds mix improves on Lowe's increasingly muddled self-production.
I'm a fan of Nick the Knife! His last consistently funny album.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 25 March 2022 21:17 (two years ago) link
btw I checked: "I Knew the Bride" (1985) earned honest-to-goodness heavy rotation on MTV in the fall of '85.
One of the things that helped the '85 "I Knew..." is that it sounded exactly like a new Huey Lewis track with Lowe singing, and audiences were hungry between Sports and Fore!.
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 25 March 2022 21:24 (two years ago) link
Exactly
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 25 March 2022 21:25 (two years ago) link
xp Hungry in '85? Shit man, wasn't Back to the Future enough??? They even had a track on We Are the World to kick off the year!
― birdistheword, Friday, 25 March 2022 22:54 (two years ago) link