Review: Nick Lowe's sardonic duality on display on new EP

Nick Lowe, 'œLay It On Me'ť (Yep Roc Records)

In typical Nick Lowe fashion, the upbeat love song that's the title track of his latest EP, 'œLay It On Me,'ť is immediately followed by a note of caution: 'œDon't Be Nice to Me.'ť

And just to pile on the misery, he follows that up with a cover of a 1962 Brenda Lee hit 'œHere Comes That Feeling,'ť a song not about finding love, but losing it.

It's that sardonic duality that's long endeared Lowe to music fans over his more than 40-year career. After all, this is the guy perhaps best known for 'œCruel to Be Kind.'ť And true to form, thanks to the surf-rock backing of Los Straitjackets, Lowe combines his tales of love lost with an upbeat, '~50s-era groove that will help you forget the sad tales he's weaving.

'œHere comes that lonely feeling again (you can't fight the feeling),'ť the 71-year-old Lowe sings in a tone that almost sounds like he's enjoying it. If anything, Lowe sounds the most melancholy on 'œLay It On Me,'ť the one love song.

The only other tune on this oh-too-short release is an instrumental remake of the 1969 Shocking Blue song 'œVenus.'ť

'œLay It On Me'ť marks the third EP in two years to feature Los Straitjackets, the Nashville-based, Mexican wrestling-mask wearing band now in their fifth year backing up Lowe.