Pictured: They don’t call him Basher for nuthin’.
This might be unfair to say, but life for Nick Lowe seems pretty alright. In his younger years he produced singles for The Pretenders and multiple albums for Elvis Costello. He did production on The Damneds’ ‘Damned, Damned, Damned,’ and for it he’s still thought of as one of early punk’s most progressive thinkers. Lowe is credited for writing the song “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding,” with his band Brinsley Schwarz(formerly known as Kippington Lodge. Awesome). The song was later redone and used on the soundtrack to the movie The Bodyguard, and since Lowe owns that song, he totally cashed in when the soundtrack sold over 15 million f’ing copies. In 1979 he married Carlene Carter, daughter of June Carter Cash and stepdaughter of one Jonny Cash, which put him in great position to record a few songs with the Cash family. Not bad at all. Add his well known nickname Basher to the list and I’d call that a pretty alright career.
And Lowe is still having fun and success at the age of 58. He’s back to recording his own music, proving that it’s nearly never too late, and his one and only son Roy is now three years old, proving once again that it’s nearly never too late.
Nick Lowe’s newest release, “At My Age,” sounds exactly like what it is. It’s an old man who worked hard all of his life to create musical success, one who broke down barriers from behind the scenes and helped move music in different directions, one whose name is known and praised by some of music’s most acclaimed figures. Now that old man is sitting back in his rocking chair, tokin’ on a cigar and sipping fine wine in his bath robe, having a blast making some music. It’s a completely vintage sounding mix of classic country and small jazz influences. These songs remind me of the old timers stuff my grandpa used to listen to, and I’d think ‘man, grandpa’s so old and strange, but I think I like him.’ It’s nothing to get too wrapped up in, probably not an album you’ll whip out on a car trip with your bros or anything like that, but it’s good for a late night loner brew before bed, and I’m pretty sure that Nick Lowe is happy with that.
This is ‘Long Limbed Girl.’ She has very long arms and legs, but somehow Nick still can’t find her.
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