Customer Reviews

Nixon

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Like Nixon's presidency, this album has received a mixed response. Some magazines hailed Lambchop's fifth effort as the countrified rebirth of Curtis Mayfield, while others damned it as 2000's latest conceptual folly (file under Radiohead). Taking sides, the preachers are right and the damners are the fools, because forty-something Kurt Wagner has produced one of the few genuinely soulful albums of the past decade. He and his increasingly large band may be living in Nashville, but Nixon goes way beyond the limitations that city has imposed on country music. `Grumpus', `The Old Gold Shoe' and `The Book I Haven't Read' are as good as anything from the Stax songbooks: relaxed, laid-back gems from a man who seems as comfortable with his day-time job of floor-laying as he is with his night-time occupation as Nashville's most overlooked. It is on `Up with People', though, a contender for the best song of last year, that Nixon crosses into genius territory. A slow rhythm gradually builds into a choral arrangement into which Lambchop proclaim that they `are screwing up our lives today', and make it sould like it's the best possible thing one could be doing with your life. Play the song in the morning before going to work, or after listening to an album by Arab Strap. Then play it again. Then play the rest of the album. Then buy it again, because it really is that good. Five stars for the coolest, most soulful and most beautiful album to come from Nashville in years.

I should say the the only reason this hasn't gotten five stars is because I've only listened to it a couple times so far. It's great though. If you've liked past Lambchop albums, you will not be disappointed. They are moving further away from the Jack's Tulips/How I Quit Smoking days. There is more of a soul feeling on this record and some songs would fit perfectly on a Marvin Gaye record. It's pretty strings heavy, which is great. It all just sounds very lush. I couldn't help but smile as I listened to this record and drove home from work. It makes great driving music. I have tickets to see them in a couple weeks and, having seen them before, I highly recommend their live show.

I'm a Lambchop fan, so I had already planned on acquiring "Nixon". I hastened my purchase after reading the gushing reviews (especially those in the UK) about it. Well, to quote an earlier Lambchop tune: "Oh, What A Disappointment". I DO admire the band's ambition - "Nixon" is sonically a wonder, the arrangements, stunning - by far the best sounding Lambchop album yet released. But unfortunately the slickness of the production has weakened the directness of the songs - there's not the immediacy of a, say, "I Will Drive Slowly". It appears that at times Lambchop doesn't know what it wants to do or be. In my opinion, the results are a bit disjointed. Maybe it's my pet peeve, but I don't need another middle-class white band trying to redefine "soul" music. "Nixon" comes off as a po-faced replica of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. The album is basically a pastiche, no matter how lovingly Lambchop treasure their influences. On a less constructive note, Kurt Wagner's falsetto is truly hideous. He has neither the range or the ability to pull it off. Instead of sounding like a sexy ladies man, his raspy squeaking more closely resembles that of a famous, porcine muppet. Like it's namesake,"Nixon" has failed in its mission and has left behind what I consider a flawed record.

As the measured tones of opener 'The Old Gold Shoe' begin one quickly realizes that, like the painting on the cover, this is a work of real astonishment and wonder and for newcomers (like me) it feels shrouded in mystery. It's easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding this album, but it does appear justified. Kurt Wagner has touched on something brilliant here, and he knows it. 'Nixon' is a remarkably original and inventive album, that while breaking new ground also remembers to please with some great songwriting. 'Grumpus' unexpectedly brings 70's soul to the table and utilizes Wagner's falsetto to great effect, while 'Up With People' is a catchy call and response gospel number. It's on 'You Masculine You' however that an undeniable magic occurs; a wonderful, soulful song sung with conviction that climaxes with Wagner's aching falsetto again and lush instrumentation swelling to overflow. Somewhere, god-willing, Curtis Mayfield will be smiling with approval. For me, the second half of "Nixon' while good, doesn't keep the pace set by the first handful of songs, 'The Petrified Florist' and 'The Butcher Boy' could have been stronger closers in order to send 'Nixon' over the top. A deflating end where it could have been a puctuation mark. Nevertheless, 'Nixon' is a grand achievement and is worth the price of admission for 'You Masculine You' alone.

Don't be fooled when Lambchop call themselves a "country" band. The twangy vocals and pedal-steel guitars are less evident than on "What Another Man Spills." What you have instead is a lush, gorgeous Philly-soul influenced groove thing, complete with Kurt Wagner's falsetto and a full string section on most tracks. And the audacious gospelly groove of "Up With People": a chorus (not unlike one that the actual Up With People might use), singing cheerfully, "we are screwing / up our lives today!" Modern day ensemble alterna-goulash at its best.

This brilliant disc blew my mind when i first heard it. Great atmospheric sounds and slow rock attitude. The best that Lambchop has done and a great intro to the band. A must own for any purveyor of smart ambitious modern music.

Off the scale...

Okay I guess I'm a Lambchop fan and I loved the last album but this one has really blown me away. What I can't understand is how some other reviewers only give it 4 stars - as far as I'm concerned 'Nixon' is off the scale. Alright I know I'm gushing...this CD will make you want to call over all your neighbours and friends, and make them listen to this beautiful music - sure it won't actually solve world hunger but while it's playing it seems like everything is okay for once on this planet of ours. Let me be objective -yes it's less country more soulful and funky but ultimately it has all the classic 'chop ingredients..cool songs, fantastic arrangements, exquisite playing - and get this ..on this album the band have really raised their game in every department. It really is a flawless record. And whatever about your end of year lists, if this isn't good enough to get on the end of decade list then the next ten years will really be the golden age of rock. C'mon progeny!

I discovered Lampchop last year through "How I Quit Smoking." How did this band get under my radar for so long? Kurt Wagner is an amazing guitar player and his voice is fine for this genre (quirky, menacing deadpan delivery). The understated, subtle arrangements are perfect. And Paul Niehaus lays down some of the most gorgeous steel guitar you'll ever hear.

I want to like this CD as much as their previous efforts, but everything that makes Lampchop so special is almost washed away in a sea of string arrangements and Wagner's hard-to-bear falsetto (what's up with that?!). There are plenty of highlights such as You Masculine You (check out the coda at the end...good stuff), Petrified Florist, Butcher Boy and Up With People. This CD showed up on a lot of Best of 2000 lists and undoubtedly a lot new fans discovered Lambchop through this CD. It's not their best, but even sub-par Lambchop is better than none. It's hard to argue with music this well-crafted.

I'm not too familiar with the midwest baroque pop stuff (an apt label, i guess) but i bought this cd because a magazine gave it its highest rating and i listened to it in amazon and was entranced. I got home and listened to it in its entirety and it is some of the most somber sweetening sounds i had ever heard of. The voice is uncanny and sounds like a lone voice peircing through a beautiful fog. Very atmospheric and gentle. The lyrics were chilling with a you've-never-heard-of-this-place setting. Very unique. Buy it.

It's not often that a CD get's the better of me, but once I heard "Up With People (live)" on the Oh, Merge! (Merge Records) compilation I had to get NIXON. The musical arrangements on this CD are outstanding; lush melodies comprised of 'loungey' guitar and horns, vibrant strings and a wonderful backing vocals. The music alone would make this a reputable disc; however, Kurt Wagners' lyrics and vocal performance send chills. I haven't been this impressed by a record since Belle & sebastian's "If You're Feeling Sinister". Please pick up and enjoy this disc.