Nearly convinced. (The Convincer - Nick Lowe)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	The Convincer - Nick Lowe
Date:	08/10/09 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One of my favourite, undiscovered tracks.

Disadvantages: Not to everyones taste.

Nick Lowe

The Convincer: 2001

I bought this on iTunes as a recommendation from a friend who told me "it will grow on you I promise". I should say at this point, there are version of this album that have 15 tracks, the iTunes version has only 12.

Nick Lowe seems to have been around forever, though in truth his successes are more associated for his work with other artists such as Elvis Costello than in his own right, apart from his one hit 'Cruel to be kind'. That being said I actually loved his 70's offering 'I love the sound of breaking glass'.

Kind of punk, kind of bluesy, very individual he is a Marmite artist, you will love him or hate him. I digress.....this album has a bit of a country blues feel to it which is quite interesting for him. In fact the opening track sets out his stall which is very angsty for the start of an album and even, in my mind has a Leonard Cohen feel about it, though Lowe is a far better vocalist.

The 2nd and 3rd tracks could easily be early Elvis, or Johnny Cash and I'm not sure they have 'grown' on me, in fact I don't like them much at all.

Then we get track four 'She's got Soul' Which is an absolute stunner; Simple, easy on the ear, great, clean lyrics and really quite an undiscovered classic for me. I first heard this when a friend sung it with his band at his own wedding, as a tribute to his wife. Very upbeat, very moving. Great song. If you don't fancy the whole album after my review, download this track at least, it is a stunner.

The next three tracks are very smooth and accomplished and in truth, rather good in a fifties/sixties crooning kind of way, bit more of a jazzy feel than the earlier offering, good Sunday listening.

The rest of the album is okay with a completely bizarrely cool offering at track 11 which is kind of hillbilly/rockabilly in style and seems really rather good, bit of a revival of this kind of music going on right now with Imelda May and I do quite like it.

This is not Lowe's last album, or his first, but apparently it was his first, post alcohol problems that damn nearly killed him. There is a confidence throughout that says "This is me, if you don't like it, tough" He mixes many styles here and does his own thing, you just have to like that.

So, overall a good album, not to everyone's taste but my friend was right, it has grown on me. Listen to 'She's got soul' and you will get a taste for this album, and might just download it all.....I did.


~~~Full Track Listing~~~
1. Homewrecker
2. Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart
3. Lately I've Let Things Slide"
4. She's Got Soul
5. Cupid Must Be Angry
6. Indian Queens
7. Poor Side Of Town
8. I'm a Mess
9. Between Dark and Dawn
10. Bygones (Won't Go)
11. Has She Got a Friend?
12. Let's Stay In and Make Love


~~On The album~~

* Nick Lowe - rhythm guitar, bass guitar, vocals
* Geraint Watkins- organ, piano
* Robert Treherne - drums
*Steve Donnelly - lead guitar

Summary: Nick Lowe.