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)

Nick Lowe - At My Age (2007)

At my age. Literally. Lowe released this album when he was 58 years old, which happens to be the current age of your humble blogger. However, after a generous number of spins, this collection of similar mid-tempo, minor-keyed tunes does almost nothing for me and the "clever old guy" lyrics are depressing at best. I'll stick with Lowe's '70s and '80s output, thanks.

Metacritic has it rated at 82, so everybody else must be hearing things I'm not. My thoughts are more aligned with former Village Voice critic Robert Christgau who gave the album a letter grade of 'C' and wrote "Reborn as a crooner because he can't rev up the rock anymore, he can't rev up the croon either. Wit: Shot. Insouciance: Shot. Romantic prospects: On this evidence, shot."

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: 12 tracks in 33 minutes. I doubt I'll revisit them once I place this digipak on the shelves, but the better cuts here are Long Limbed Girl, The Man In Love, and Not Too Long Ago.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

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

Nick Lowe - Nick the Knife (1982)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD. The CD I listened to was the 2017 Yep Roc reissue. Good job on the remastering.

Thanks to my buddy Jim, I was exposed to all sorts of British pub/roots rock in 1982, including the music of Nick Lowe, who, if he wasn't recording the records I was buying, he was writing, playing, or producing the records I was buying. This album may be a mixed bag of genres, but it sure is a fun listen. There are Lowe songs I like better than the tunes on Nick The Knife, but from top-to-bottom, I think this is his best release (granted, I haven't kept up with his entire catalog over the years although I probably should have).

Lots of great musicians on this release. Lowe gathered up friends from Rockpile, The Rumour, The Attractions, and Squeeze along with his then-wife Carlene Carter, whose backing harmonies often steal the show. Also notable for being the rare Lowe album without a cover song or two.

Reviews were mixed upon release, to say the least:

• Smash Hits (7 out of 10): "fast and clean rock'n'roll songs"
• Rolling Stone (★★★½): "catchy hooks and clever twists of phrase"
• Stereo Review: "almost uniformly blah"
• Trouser Press: "he never alienates his audience"
• Robert Christgau (B+): "the music is tossed off with what sounds like indolence rather than charm"
• Musician: "a surprising letdown"
• Record Mirror (★★★★★): "A dozen pearls and every one a winner."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #50
• Billboard Rock: #22
• CashBox: #48
• Rolling Stone: #28

Tracks: My top picks are Burning, Heart, Stick It Where The Sun Don't Shine, Too Many Teardrops, Raining Raining, and One's Too Many (And A Hundred Ain't Enough). There's also a few fun throwaways like Ba Doom and Zulu Kiss. The demos included as bonus tracks are of interest only once or twice.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Nothing comes to mind, but last time I put together a list of my favorite albums of 1982, I ranked this at #41.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Basher: The Best Of Nick Lowe (1989)
The Abominable Showman (1983)

Nick Lowe - Basher: The Best Of Nick Lowe (1989)

British pub rock meets New Wave pop meets roots rock. It works for me - I've been a fan of Lowe's since I heard Cruel To Be Kind on the radio back in the late '70s. That song reached #12 in 1979 and was Lowe's only Top 40 hit in the US, officially earning him one hit wonder status. Lowe might be better known for his work with Elvis Costello, particularly the writing of (What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?. Interestingly, in 1992, Curtis Stigers covered that song on the soundtrack to The Bodyguard, an album that sold over 40 million copies, providing Lowe with financial security for life. I'm guessing that sales of that album have picked up since Whitney Houston's recent passing, adding to Lowe's golden parachute. Lowe is still recording, but I have to confess that I've lost track of him. I admire his desire for not reliving past successes and wish him the best, but he'll always be an '80s artist to me.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: A remarkably consistent 25 tracks. My favs are So It Goes, (I Love The Sound Of) Breaking Glass, Big Kick Plain Scrap, Cruel To Be Kind, and Time Wounds All Heels. I don't particularly like the music to Switchboard Susan, but the lyrics contains every phone sex double entendre imaginable so it always makes me chuckle.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I thought I was the only one in high school listening to Lowe, but it turns out I wasn't. Now I can't hear I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock 'N' Roll) without thinking of my classmate Krista. I also remember trying to get my local music store to get me a copy of Lowe's Labour of Lust LP with no results. I guess I've been holding a grudge for some time if I still remember that factoid 30 years later.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Abominable Showman (1983)

Nick Lowe - The Abominable Showman (1983)

Note: this release was originally purchased as an LP, later replaced by a CD.

At the time of this release, I was in search of anything that could possibly sound something like the band Squeeze, so I picked up albums by Lowe, Paul Carrack, Rockpile, Dave Edmunds, etc. This album has its moments, but some of it is unlistenable (except to reach the goals of this CD listening project). This is an uneven affair to be sure. Songs are derivative of doo-wop, country, soul, rockabilly, and even ventures into '80s New Wave. The CD must currently be out-of-print because I see it going for more than $50 on auction sites. I wouldn't pay that, but I got it on the cheap (under $10) in the early '90s after it had been released on CD.

Press of the time:

• Trouser Press: "Has Nick the Knife lost his edge?"
• Rolling Stone (★★½): "Nick the Knife has lost his cutting edge."
• Billboard: "economical melodies and tongue-in-cheek lyric twists"
• Stereo Review: "consistently delightful"
• Robert Christgau (B+): "No tour de force, just unlabored love songs"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #129
• Billboard Rock: #30
• CashBox: #111

Tracks: My favs are the silly Chicken and Feathers and Saint Beneath the Paint. They are throwaway tracks, but full of '80s pop silliness and who among us doesn't love some deep album cut of filler? Also good are We Want Action and Ragin' Eyes. Unlistenable: Tanque-Rae, Paid the Price, How Do You Talk to an Angel?

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I remember listening to this exclusively in my bedroom because it wasn't good enough for me to record to cassette and take with me in my '73 Ford Maverick (a.k.a. the Markmobile).