16 All-Time Highes
03/14/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"16 All Time Lowes was released in 1984, just before Nick Lowe decided to return to American roots music with his fifth solo album, Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit, and it appropriately functions as a greatest-hits collection of his new wave years. Most of the 16 tracks are culled from Jesus of Cool and Labour of Lust, with Rockpile's "When I Write the Book" and the non-LP "Basing Street" added for good measure. It's a very entertaining collection, boasting such Nick classics as "Born Fighter," "Marie Provost," "Cruel to Be Kind," "Cracking Up," "So It Goes," and "They Called It Rock." - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG"
CLEVER POPROCK
Pieter | Johannesburg | 07/06/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I wonder why such a talented singer & songwriter should be so obscure? To me, he's as good as Elvis Costello. Every single one of these tracks is great. To single out just 4 of them: (I Love The Sound Of ) Breaking Glass with its killer hook (very evocative of David Bowie's Breaking Glass on his "Low" album), the chilling tale of Mary Provost (an actress who lost it when the talkies came in and who was eaten by her doggie in a "cheap hotel up on Hollywood West" - wonder if it was a chihuahua?), the hilarious So It Goes with its quirky beat and the singalong Nutted By Reality. I recommend this album to those who love intelligent rock-pop with clever lyrics and catchy melodies. Very much like early Elvis Costello."
Wicked Awesome Nick!
03/14/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great tunes mostly from his Rockpile years. 'Basher' has more for your money but doesn't include 4 excellent tracks found here: Skin Deep, Nutted By Reality, They Called It Rock, and Basing Street (not found on any of his LPs). As a sidenote, indie rocker and Nick-fan Scott McCaughey (Minus Five) released a fine version of Basing Street in 1995.p.s. And I love the demented photo of Nick on the cover (and I also love the sound of breaking glass)."