Search - :: The Wilderness Years

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Jerry Lewis (archibig@aol.com) | Paradise or Basingstoke | 11/21/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The chief virtue of being an on-line critic is that the job is a self-appointed one. That being said, ignore the "official" critic's opinion, and listen to me! When the aliens come, looking for sweet pop music and the inter-glactic bop, tell them to look no further than the Jesus of Cool himself. The Wilderness Years takes me back to the days when I was in the wilderness myself, searching the dry and dusty bins of my local record shop for something, anything, that wasn't corporate and calculated, and a record called "Live Stiffs" hit me up the side of the head. Everyone who knows Nick Lowe knows many of the songs on "The Wilderness Years", and probably owns this collection. If you don't know Nick Lowe, start with "Jesus of Cool" and "Labour of Lust" and you'll wind up here. Highly recommended."

Lowe Profile

G.C. | Potomac, MD USA | 11/06/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is a great discovery waiting to happen. It is a collection of tracks from around 1975 -- more or less following the time that Lowe was in the UK group Brinsley Schwarz and preceding his first solo album 'Jesus Of Cool' (which in the USA had the title 'Pure Pop For Now People'). While not everything is essential, it is a great collection and none of the tracks are on 'Basher' or any of Nick's other compilations. And Nick's renowned sense of humor is in full form, illustrated by not one but TWO songs praising the short-lived mid-1970's bubblegum quintent the Bay City Rollers (think "Saturday Night" and "I Only Wanna Be With You" and tight plaid pants). And another tongue-in-cheek song "I Love My Label" which Nick states in the liner notes he recorded to get out of his contract with United Artists. In essence, this collection forms a nice trilogy with 'Jesus Of Cool' and 'Labour of Lust.'"

Fascinating collection of Lowe's odds & sods

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 06/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great collection of Lowe's odds 'n' ends, including singles released only outside the US. Includes rarities from the "Bowi" EP (released in retaliation for Bowie releasing his "Low" album) including the superb surf instrumental "Shake that Rat" and lethargic, crawling "Endless Sleep."Other fine tracks include both sides of Lowe's tongue-in-cheek salute to the Bay City Rollers (plus the bonus Gary Glitter knock-off "Allorolla"), both sides of his Disco Brothers collaboration with Dave Edmunds, a terrific cover of "Halfway to Paradise," and much much more.Though this overlaps with the "Doings" box set, it contains enough material from his time right after Brinsley Schwarz to make it a worthwhile addition."