Lay It on Me

Now that Nick Lowe has reached his third EP of new material recorded with Los Straitjackets, it only stands to reason that the musicians have found the same groove in the studio as they do on-stage. Certainly, Lay It on Me feels casual in a way Tokyo Bay and Love Starvation do not. Some of that could be due to the EP concluding with a cover of Shocking Blues Venus performed by Los Straitjackets and featuring Lowe behind the production board for the first time in a quarter-century. As fun as it is, Venus feels like the definition of a B-side -- a trifle tucked away on a flip side -- but the other three songs also display a knowing familiarity between the leader and the band, and since these tracks consist of two new originals and a sung cover of Brenda Lees oldie Here Comes That Feeling, the rewards are greater. Here Comes That Feeling cracked the U.K. Top Ten in 1962 (it barely registered in the U.S.) and its sophisticated shuffle does provide a touchstone for the two Lowe originals. Certainly, with its high-toned strut, Dont Be Nice to Me suggests pre-Beatles pop, and while there are some lingering Brill Building mannerisms on Lay It on Me, the guitars of Los Straitjackets chime and ring in a fashion patented in the mid-60s. To their credit, the music sounds lively and relaxed -- rolling without rocking -- and its an ideal match for Lowes wry, relaxed performance. He seems at home with Los Straitjackets, playing sophisticated pop for people with their hearts stuck in yesterday. Its a combination thats a bit hard to resist. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine