Personnel: Nick Lowe (vocals, guitar, bass); Steve Donnelly (guitar); Richie Buckley (tenor saxophone); Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Matt Holland (flugelhorn); Geraint Watkins (piano, organ); Robert Treherne (drums); Tessa Niles (background vocals). Recorded at RAK Studios, London and The Barge, Twickenham, England between May 2000 and April 2001. Personnel: Steve Donnelly (guitar); Richie Buckley (tenor saxophone); Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Matt Holland (flugelhorn); Geraint Watkins (piano, organ); Tessa Niles (background vocals). Photographer: Dan Burn-Forti. The soft, soulful side that former rabble-rouser Nick Lowe began inching towards on 1990's PARTY OF ONE, and followed through on throughout the decade, reaches its apex on THE CONVINCER. With a lived-in crooning style whose softness belies the lyrics' emotional turmoil, Lowe drags his heart over the coals on songs that encompass '60s R&B, country, and even Bacharach-style pop. From the romantic desperation of the Johnny Cash-like romp "Has She Got a Friend?" to the broken-hearted soul plaint "I'm a Mess" and Sam Cooke-on-a-bender "Cupid Must be Angry," Lowe clearly takes delight in fashioning eloquent, period-perfect statements of lovelorn distress. Though upbeat tunes are scarce here, Lowe's inherent good-natured gestalt and luxurious tones keep THE CONVINCER from getting bogged down in its own despair. Instead, it offers the opportunity to marvel at the emotional depth and peerless popcraft of a master whose next album must surely be a rocker, since this one brings things down about as far as they can go.

• Genre: Rock
• Released: 09/11/2001
• Handling Note: **Please allow an additional 72 hours for this item's shipment.**
• Format: CD