Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets – Indoor Safari

Simplifying his extensive catalog, Nick Lowe’s career can be divided into two phases. There’s the cynical, power pop rabble-rouser versus the mature songwriter. The transition can be traced back to a tune called “What’s Shakin’ on the Hill”, the most memorable track on 1990’s Party of One. By 1994’s The Impossible Bird, Lowe had fully embraced his new role as pop elder statesmen. After all, what’s a guy with a full head of white hair and a penchant for writing pop melodies to do?

Old Dogs & New Tricks

Six albums and twenty some odd years later, we have the answer. Find a crackin’ backing band and start all over again. Thanks to surf/rockabilly band Los Straitjackets, Lowe seems to have found yet another trick up his more than savvy musical sleeve. Indoor Safari combines a little bit of both phases and then some. This pop elder statesmen can deliver a rocker without sounding like a parody of himself, then turn around and credibly croon his way through a sad song. And Los Straitjackets make it all sound, well, brand new.

The twelve tracks on Indoor Safari consist of both up-tempo and slow numbers. There’s rave ups and sad songs. Covers and new originals. “Went to a Party” sounds like the theme song to a 60’s frat blow out. “Crying Inside” is a clever little number that would have fit well on his mid-career Impossible Bird album. Judging by early indications, “Jet Pac Boomerang” seems to have the attention of freeform radio as its been getting some pretty significant airplay. It’s incredibly catchy and Lowe delivers the song with a charm that is distinctively his own.  

The cover of Ricky Nelson’s “Raincoat in the River” is a wonderful song. Lowe’s version serves the original quite well. That said, my favorite track is “Tokyo Bay”. One of the album’s new originals, It rocks with the kind of urgency those old Rockpile tunes did. And Los Straitjackets are the perfect band to make the track sizzle.

Get Nick Lowe’s Indoor Safari

There aren’t many who write songs as catchy and clever as Lowe. At 75 years of age, who knows how much longer we’ll be treated to his genius. So get your copy of Nick Lowe & Los Straitjacket’s Indoor Safari at Amazon or anywhere fine music is sold.