Nick Lowe - Jesus Of Cool (1978)

Note: the CD I listened to was a promo copy of the 30th Anniversary Edition. The album title was changed in the US to Pure Pop For Now People. I guess the Columbia label was afraid some evangelical from Kansas might write an angry letter.

It's almost as if Lowe decided to make an infuriatingly catchy pop music masterpiece while simultaneously mocking the entire idea of pop music. Coming out of England's pub rock scene, he combined roots rock, new wave, and power pop with ease. Lots of hooks, great production, clever lyrics - it's all here and doesn't seem dated in the least. But you know the old story: critical adoration (see below) doesn't necessarily mean commercial success.

Press of the time:

• High Fidelity: "an album that is both brainy and visceral"
• Billboard: "some truly entertaining rock'n'roll"
• Record World: "an album of refreshing, faultlessly executed pure pop"
• CashBox: "songs are framed in classic pop melodies and arrangements"
• Roadrunner: "BUYITBUYITBUYITBUYITBUYITBUYITBUYITB"
• Rolling Stone: "a novelty record, an admiring vivisection of other people's hit singles."
• Stereo Review: Recording of Special Merit
• Trouser Press: "Thank God for Nick Lowe"
• Robert Christgau (A): "an amazing pop tour-de-force"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #127
• Billboard Catalog (2008): #32
• CashBox: #109

In The Village Voice's annual 'Pazz & Jop' critic's poll, this album placed at #3 for the year, just behind The Rolling Stones and Elvis Costello. And in 2020, Paste made a list of The 50 Best New Wave Albums in which Jesus Of Cool ranked at #11. Curiously, I found that I only own 26 of those 50 on CD. Lead us not into temptation.

Tracks:

...from the original album: I could do without the heavy metal satire of the opening track, but starting with track 2, it's all good. So It Goes and I Like The Sound Of Breaking Glass are the stand outs here, but not far behind are Little Hitler (à la Beach Boys), Tonight, No Reason (ska lite), Marie Provost (you come for the lyrics, but then realize the chorus is an earworm), Nutted By Reality (McCartneyesque pastiche), and the fun rocker Heart Of The City (Live). Lowe spoils us.

...and more: The tops of these ten include (but not limited to) the surf-rock instrumental Shake That Rat, They Called It Rock, the cheap shot at The Bay City Rollers (Rollers Show), I Don't Want The Night to End (I hope he closed at least a few of his concerts with this one) and, of course, the original Rockpile version of Cruel To Be Kind and the studio version of Heart Of The City. But again, no tracks to be skipped.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I heard Cruel To Be Kind on my AM radio in 1979, but I didn't start seeking out Lowe music until the early '80s when I was searching for anything connected to artists related to Squeeze, Paul Carrack, Rockpile, etc. Even after buying The Abominable Showman in 1983, I didn't delve into Lowe's back catalog as quickly as I probably should have. I'll blame that on being 16 years old and desperately wanting to be on the leading edge of the latest new pop music development, not realizing I could buy both the latest Kajagoogoo album AND a 5 year old Lowe album at the same time. Facepalm emoji.

Previously revisited for the blog:
At My Age (2007)
Basher: The Best Of Nick Lowe (1989)
The Abominable Showman (1983)
Nick the Knife (1982)