Customer Reviews

Dig My Mood

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll be honest, I miss the rollickin, rockin good time smart alec that Nick Lowe once was (check out PARTY OF ONE or COWBOY OUTFIT) but whatever he does, he does it well. Lowe has ever been a bit of a musical chameleon, that was rather the point of JESUS OF COOL, after all. Once upon a time, he did British Invasion pop with Kippenton Lodge (see HENS TEETH by Brinsley Schwarz) then he did Byrds style country rock and psychedelia (early Brinsley Schwarz) and then he did country, pub and rockabilly solo and with Rockpile. Here he has transformed himself into a soulful lounge singer who actually has a soul. Few performers could pull off so many styles and stay true to their muse, but the Basher is a master. Best tracks are `Failed Christian', `What Lack Of Love Has Done', `Man That I've Become' and especially `Faithless Lover'. All are heartfelt, moving songs with a quiet intensity that Nick has hinted at for years (check out `You Make Me' from LABOR OF LUST or 'Heart' on NICK THE KNIFE) but which really came to the fore with the excellent IMPOSSIBLE BIRD. Here the transformation is complete. I'll admit, it took me a while to get into this album, since it was so different from most of his earlier output, but every Nick Lowe gets better with repeated listening. That is what makes him a genius.

Three and a half stars compared to Impossible Bird. Expecting the twang of that masterpiece, I was initially disappointed in Dig My Mood. But a few spins persuaded me, in particular the songs Faithless Lover, Lonesome Reverie, Man That I've Become and Cold Grey Light Of Dawn.

The sound at first appears to be of the Jim Reeves style of country, but there is definitely a lounge element. You Inspire Me, for example, is a jazzy number, balanced out by the uptempo country-pop of What Lack Of Love Has Done with its gently lilting melody.

The brooding Failed Christian is a sad, moving song with sympathetic backing, whilst the rhythmic uptempo Man That I've Become with its lovely tune is coloured blue by the exquisite organ. This being the closest to the sound of Impossible Bird, it is my favorite on the album.

Freezing is another jazzy excursion, and is followed by the uplifting High On A Hilltop, another tuneful song with exquisite guitar infusions. Lead Me Not has a gospel feel with Nick in a different voice. The album concludes with the soulful rhythmic ballad Cold Grey Light Of Dawn.

Dig My Mood is another gem by this talented artist. The lyrics and the melodies are gripping and although I miss the twang of that other album, the organ here more than makes up for it. Nick Lowe is a highly accomplished musician and songwriter with a consistent output of quality music; I hope he gets more recognition one day.

Luckily some artists never become superatars. It keeps the quality up like on this ultra mellow gem. Hopefully guys like this (and John Hiatt/Neil Finn) get just enough support to keep making music this good for themselves and us and not for some cool car commercial or hip soundtrack.

Nick Lowe has been known to produce snappy happy-go-lucky pop tunes. But true genius never stays still. In Dig My Mood, Lowe presents an almost Nick Cave-ish side of himself. The album's underlying mood is sombre and cynical, but at the same time Lowe perserves his sense of humour and irony. The track Man That I've Become is a study in self-deprecation and a lot of us slightly older cynics can probably well identify with it. Aside from very intelligent,if brooding lyrics, Lowe, as usual, comes up with snappy, catchy tunes. Many people may not take well to his transition from a pure pop musician to a "serious" singer-songwriter, but what the heck. I personally can't wait to hear what he will come up with next. We might well be very surprised again. Lowe may emerge from his dark phase to produce more happy-go-lucky tunes. Whatever it is, it's gonna be quality stuff.

Smooth, suave and sophisticated are hardly apt descriptions for a CD recorded by an ex-pub rocker who was known in the trade from his time as Stiff Records house producer as Basher. Dig My Mood certainly doesn't sound like it was put down in one or two takes after a liquid lunch! On Nick's latest offering, the songs, their arrangements, production and playing show a new maturity, depth and willingness to take on and effortlessly master different musical genre's Dig My Mood provides perfect aural accompaniment for the cocktail hour, a late evening soiree or the morning after. For those who haven't been touch with Nick since his halcyon days of Labour Of Love, & Dig My Mood is a must buy, and should start the listener on a journey of re-discovery that also needs to seriously consider the country rockish Impossible Bird from the mid 90's, the tongue in check pop of Party of One from the late 80's and the excellent Rose Of England featuring Paul Carrack and the Cowboy Outfit from the mid 80's period. What the hell, why not just check out Nick's recent 4 CD box set The Doings and grab the best bits of his back catalogue starting from Jesus Of Cool onwards. John Dunton, Melbourne,

I'd never heard of this album - or Nick Lowe, for that matter - until stumbling across it quite by accident at a record shop in Calgary. I picked it up after a quick listen and have nearly worn it out ever since. That was seven months ago, and I can only say I like it even more now.

He croons like he's in an intimate nightclub setting, changing from a haunting falsetto to a low, guttural you-know-he's-been-there tune like "Failed Christian." After this, his most recent work to date, I haven't found any of his earlier albums to even come close to what can only be described as sheer genius on the album. Every song is a winner, every one a heartfelt anthem. And I like a lot of music - I don't mean to gush, but this album by all means deserves it.

Nick, keep making music like "Faithless Lover" and "Kind of Man I've Become." I've already talked three of my friends into buying copies and the word is spreading like wildfire. Just consider stopping by Salt Lake on your next tour. Please.

Lead Me Not is a great song. So is Faithless Lover a great dichotomy-faithless lover there is no other. This should have won some awards. Failed Christian is really as true as you can get.

this recording is a long Meddle of San Tropez by Pink Floyd , just wonderful songs ... Can't wait to hear the Impossible Bird ...

The album covers many of Nick's influences and tatste in such a way as to be timeless. I hear Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole, Jonny Rivers and more...all produced superbly.

nick lowe has been writing great music for nearly 30 years, a feat few have managed..."dig my mood" is a shift in gears to a more mellow, late-night with the lights down low mood that may catch long time fans by surprise, but stick with it and you'll indeed dig his mood.