The Convincer

Nick Lowe

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Yep Roc Records
• ASIN: B00005MCW4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,858 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #8 in	Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Nick Lowe has reached a midlife plateau in his career where he can actually gaze down upon some mighty impressive past accomplishments. Lowe left his mark on pub rock, punk, and new wave as a performer and producer before losing momentum in the late '80s and early '90s. However, with 1994's The Impossible Bird he engineered a stunning artistic comeback. Dig My Mood, which arrived four years later, proved Bird was no fluke. And The Convincer keeps the streak going. Like its predecessor, this 12-song set is anchored around reflective tunes that are presented with a minimum of fuss. The mature Lowe takes his vocal cues from Nat "King" Cole; like the great romantic crooner, there's an elegant catch in his delivery that's both downcast and dignified. The once irrepressible wag with a propensity for punning record titles (The Abominable Showman, 16 All-Time Lowes) is now a soulful balladeer of the first order. Somehow those irreverent hijinks aren't missed in the least. --Steven Stolder

Q MAGAZINE Oct 2001
The Convincer slots in smoothly behind 1998's Dig My Mood.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fairly Convincing, September 20, 2001

By	Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Nick Lowe was one of the pioneers of new wave music. He wrote scathingly witty songs that were delivered in a power pop, punkish tones. In recent years he has moved away from that sound and developed into something of a balladeer. The Convincer is full mellow songs crooned by Mr. Lowe. His voice has become more and more of an instrument over the years. Despite the change in styles, Mr. Lowe has retained his wry sense of humor and sharp wit. "Bygones (Won't Go)", "I'm A Mess", "Lately I've Let Things Slip", "Let's Stay In & Make Love" and "Only A Fool Breaks His Own Heart" all retain that classic Lowe writing style. He does an elegant version of Johnny Rivers' "Poor Side Of Town" which may be the best song on the disk.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why does this "complete the trilogy"?, November 25, 2002

By	John Stodder "a.k.a. Juan La Princi" (livin' just enough) - See all my reviews

This is, first of all, just a great album. If you had a choice, I might recommend "Dig My Mood" first, because that album reaches incredible heights that aren't quite hit with this one, but I have no complaints--this is wonderful songwriting, and the performances by Lowe and his band are of such sublime subtlety. Getting old sounds great here, if it means you can be relaxed and precise, spontaneous and controlled, all at once.

I keep wondering, though, what the hell everybody means by saying this album "completes the trilogy"? Did Lowe ever announce he was doing a trilogy? Did he map out these three albums (with "Impossible Bird" being first, then "...Mood" then this) in advance? Is he finished now, and is planning to move to a new genre? Is he retiring? From what I can tell of his compositional method, he writes and records his albums a song at a time. If his muse gives him another song in this style, is he going to say, "Oh well, I'm done with all that with the completion of my trilogy, so I guess I'll just send this song along to Solomon Burke or someone else."

Well, I hope not. Bring on the four-peat! This is a great, classic musical model that Lowe can do for the next 25 years as far as I'm concerned.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nick's Career Best, October 4, 2001

By	Christopher Zayne Reeves (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In a recent interview with No Depression magazine, Nick Lowe put over his last three albums (this, Dig My Mood & The Impossible Bird) as being bereft of his usual bag-of-tricks and that all three had "Bottom" which means depth. In the late 70's, when some pretty unlistenable music was at its' mass saturation point on the airwaves, Nick Lowe was one of the few out there that was producing smart music that wasn't ripping kids off. Now the kids that Nick saved the first time around are all grown up and he looks to bail them out again.

A lifelong fan of 50's and early 60's Tin Pan Alley pop, Nick pays stunning tribute and redefines the genre in the process. Amazing, infectious songs such as Cupid Must Be Angry and Indian Queens represent everything that is good about Pre-Beatles, Pre-Stones & Pre-Dylan pop while also avoiding lapses into reverent nostalgia via Lowe's impeccable songwriting and his wittily engaging voice. Nick also delivers deft performances on covers such as Poor Side Of Town and Only A Fool Breaks His Own Heart.

Best of all is the opening track, Homewrecker. For those that haven't heard it yet, I won't spoil it but to say that it contains what might be the funniest, meanest opening line in the history of pop music. The rest of the song keeps up admirably and sets the tone for an album about men getting kicked out and wanting back in from the cold.

Cheers Nick for giving us such a great album and I hope you'll be around to bail us out again in another 20 years!!!