In the ever-evolving landscape of rock & roll, some artists manage to stay relevant decade after decade. Enter Nick Lowe, the 75-year-old British songsmith who’s been crafting earworms since before most of us knew what an earworm was. Known affectionately as “The Basher” for his quick and dirty production style, Lowe has donned many hats throughout his career: singer, songwriter, producer, and purveyor of pure pop for now people.
Lowe is the mastermind behind classics like “Cruel to Be Kind,” “So It Goes,” and the peace-and-love anthem that Elvis Costello turned into a clarion call, “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.”
If you’re scratching your head wondering why you haven’t heard more about this musical maven, it’s because Lowe has always been more comfortable behind the scenes, pulling the (six) strings like a benevolent puppet master.
Finally, Lowe is stepping into the spotlight once again, and he’s brought some masked marauders along for the ride. He has teamed up with Los Straitjackets, a band known for their killer surf-rock licks and their penchant for Mexican wrestling masks. Together, they’re unleashing Indoor Safari upon the world, Lowe’s first full-length album in over a decade.
The Straitjacket Fit
You might be wondering, “Nick Lowe and masked surf-rockers?!” Fear not, for this unlikely pairing is a match made in rock ‘n’ roll heaven. Lowe himself explains, “The Straitjackets like all kinds of music, and are very good, open-minded musicians, apart from being very agreeable people. And they also have a sort of punk rock ethos, which, unfortunately, I do too. I’ve tried to shrug it off so many times, but I just can’t get rid of it.”
It’s this punk rock spirit, tempered by years of musical wisdom, that makes Indoor Safari so thrilling. The album is a wild ride through the jungle of Lowe’s musical mind, with Los Straitjackets providing the sonic machete to hack through the underbrush.
From Brinsley to Basher to Masked Crusader
For those who need a quick Nick Lowe primer: our hero started his musical journey in the 1960s with Brinsley Schwarz, a pub-rock band that was more influential than successful. He then moved on to produce for Stiff Records, where he earned his “Basher” nickname for his impromptu production style. Lowe’s fingerprints can be found on seminal albums by Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, and The Damned, to name just a few.
In the late ’70s, Lowe teamed up with guitar virtuoso Dave Edmunds to form Rockpile, a supergroup that classic rock fans still speak of in reverent tones. Despite only releasing one official album under the Rockpile name, the band’s influence looms large, with their high-energy performances and rootsy sound helping to bridge the gap between pub rock and new wave.
After that, Lowe struck out on his own, releasing a string of critically acclaimed solo albums and even scoring a hit with “Cruel to Be Kind.” He’s collaborated with everyone from Johnny Cash to Diana Ross and even penned a tune for Engelbert Humperdinck. (No, really. We couldn’t make this stuff up if we tried.)
Safari So Good
Now, with Indoor Safari, Lowe is once again reinventing himself. The album’s lead single, “Went To A Party,” is a certified plate of sock hop soul, showcasing Lowe’s first official co-write with Los Straitjackets. It’s a tantalizing taste of what’s to come, an album that Emmy-winning writer Eli Attie calls “nothing less than a free-roaming journey through the wilds of recorded sound.”
From the bouncy “Jet Pac Boomerang” to the elegiac “Blue on Blue,” Indoor Safari is a tour de force of musical styles, all filtered through Lowe’s sardonic wit and Los Straitjackets’ instrumental prowess. It’s the kind of album that could only come from a seasoned veteran who’s seen it all but still has a twinkle in his eye and a spring in his step.
The Last Word
With the release of Indoor Safari, it’s worth reflecting on the remarkable career of Nick Lowe. He’s been in the trenches of the rock music biz for over half a century, yet still manages to surprise and delight us.
Whether he’s crafting timeless pop gems, producing punk rock classics, or teaming up with masked surf rockers, Lowe proves that true musical talent knows no bounds – and apparently, no age limits either.
-Staci Layne Wilson
Photo: Nick Lowe (Getty)
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