"Without a doubt, this is the album where Nick Lowe's talents came together -- his humor, sense of melody and singing make this one of the best albums from the British group that included Rockpile and Elvis Costello. You'll be humming these songs for months."
A dollar changed my outlook
Music Guy | SF, CA | 03/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The year was 1989 when I bought this album for a buck in Chicago at a garage sale. I already knew that I loved Costello and Lowe and Squeeze. At first, I found the songs catchy, easy to live with. Then they grew on me exponentially and it became clear that Nick Lowe had the ability to take his Buddy Holly and his 1960s American country music influences and turn them into catchier british grooves with sardonic lyrics. Listen closely to the play on the blues and rockabilly beats. This is one of my top three favorite albums of all time. As much as I love Costello, I am not sure he would have been what he was without Lowe."
When I was young love was fun & I was so Happy!!
Music Guy | 07/20/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Oh what a sound! Nick's got the knack to create those catchy little ditties that make you tap your feet and stir your emotions. A brilliant use of quirky sounds and deep, thought-provoking lyrics makes for great british pop rock! Listen once, then listen again!"
Rock 'n' Roll perfection
642 | TN | 10/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Nick Lowe's "Nick the Knife" is one of the best, all-time rock albums. The combination of the artist's stunning wit, unshakable grooves, and breadth of musical styles are simply unmatched.
Every track here is first-rate, but most particularly the middle tracks: Couldn't love you (romantic hyperole gone wild), Let Me Kiss Ya (catchy, offbeat rocker), Too Many Teardrops, Ba Doom (Got a smile like a searchlight....), and Raining Raining (beautifully sad).
This album, combined with his first solo LP, "Jesus of Cool", also known as "Pure Pop for Now People" established Nick Lowe as a powerhouse of pop, and set him out on a journey of great music for over 25 years now.
"
Sounds like a death rattle....
Frederick Luthardt Jr. | Maryland | 07/09/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was already turned on to Nick Lowe from Labour of Lust and Pure Pop/Jesus of Cool. Of course, the foray into the works of other artists and bands, in which Nick had active and/or behind the scenes impact, created a large and diverse section of my old LP collection. When Nick the Knife came out, the band was different, the sound was different, the lyrics were classic and edgy Lowe. I purchased a new German import of the album and was enchanted. The songs have pop-hooks for the most part, but they are still unique and, to me, are hard to categorize. My favorite Lowe song of all time is "My Heart Hurts" on this record. I have to agree with some of the other reviewers for this and other Lowe records that he has become somewhat blue and morose, so I have to admit I'm partial to the "First Half" ouvre."