Indoor Safari

老いてなおゴキゲンなロックンロールを鳴らし続ける!
言わずと知れたパブロックの祖の一人。なんと前作より11年降りとなるオリジナル・アルバムは近年活動をともにしている覆面サーフ・バンド、ロス・ストレイト・ジャケッツをバックに、以前シングルでリリースされた「TOKYO BAY」を核にしつつロックンロールを連発の最高なアルバムに仕上がっています。バンドの性質上、サーフ、ラウンジ的要素も少しあるのがまた面白いですね。

パブロックのパイオニアとして活躍を続けてきた、ニック・ロウが、近年活動を共にする覆面バンド、ロス・ストレイトジャケッツとともに吹き込んだ2024年作が登場!
前作『Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection for All the Family』以来10年以上ぶりとなるアルバムがこの『Indoor Safari』。初期ロックンロールへの回帰を思わせる本作には、ニック・ロウとストレイトジャケッツが初めて公式に共作した「Went to a Party」に加え、「Tokyo Bay」「Don't Be Nice to Me」など過去にリリースされた楽曲のリメイク版、リッキー・ネルソン「Raincoat in the River」のカヴァーなど全12曲が収録されています。

When Nick Lowe began touring and recording with the nimble rock & roll combo Los Straitjackets in the late 2010s, it marked a dividing point in his career. The sophisticated, stately crooner he had been in the past decade or two was replaced by a fellow a little more interested in rocking out, perhaps even recapturing some of the power pop gusto of his glory days in Rockpile. Over the course of three singles issued between 2018 and 2022, the chemistry between Lowe and the band solidified into something rollicking and fun, an amazing third or fourth act for the singer/songwriter. As the band toured over the years, the songs from the singles were well honed, prompting Lowes decision to re-record them for his first album in years, Indoor Safari. It’s about half remakes and half new songs, all played in laid-back, old-fashioned rock & roll style. Unsurprisingly, the songs are all hookier than the fishing department in an outdoor gear megamart. Lowe dips into the past to come up with songs that feel borrowed from the Buddy Holly ("Love Starvation") and Del Shannon ("Lay It on Me") songbooks, occasionally injecting some snap and crackle that make it feel like Rockpile if you squint a little ("Crying Inside"). There are a few songs that update his crooner persona, while the band strips off a layer of sophistication and gloss and adds some surf rock twang. Lowes vocals sound weathered, but never torn, which adds some extra gravitas to the ballads like "Different Kind of Blue" that dot the album like teardrops. Hes also flexible enough to deliver some good-natured sass on "A Quiet Place," strut a little on "Jet Pac Boomerang," and warble like a dime store Roy Orbison on the albums stickiest tune, "Trombone." It all adds up to something predictably well-crafted and impeccably played, but its also a cherry on top of the wonderfully unexpected sundae that is his collaboration with Los Straitjackets. It may not be Rockpile, and it may not equal his best albums as a crooner, but its a cheerful, fun, sweet -- and melancholy at times -- record that consolidates and validates the revival of Lowe the rocker and for that, his fans should rejoice. ~ Tim Sendra

11年ぶりの新作は、奇怪なマスクマン集団を従えての大ロックンロール大会となった。リード曲としてすでに人気の"Tokyo Bay"をはじめ、小気味良いビートに合わせて快調にスウィングしまくる御大がめっぽうゴキゲンで、ガーネット・ミムズのカヴァー"A Quiet Place"のような甘酸っぱいポップ・ナンバーも実にイイ具合。これは近年の最高傑作と位置付けてよろしいかと。
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