Nizlopi is an album of gems and a group I’d heard of but never given a second thought. My first experience came via the JCB Song which I trashed on my first listen. “Is this what the world is listening to?!” I exclaimed. Oh the shame of it all. It’s not the greatest song ever, but it is a sweet and innocent track of imagination and childhood. I dismissed the brilliant simplicity of the track as medocrity and childish. Again, I admit I was wrong. The rest of the album is pure brilliance, and surely a band to demonstrate that good songs haven’t yet died.
The album, Half These Songs Are About You, starts off with the accomplished Fine Story. A song about love lost and pen found, simple in its execution but oh so easily addictive. It does become a bit repetitive towards the end of the track, when the continued singing of “well, well, well” does start to grate that little bit.
It’s true that the entire album is full of simplicity, with brilliant acoustic guitars, backed at times by the gentle playing of a piano. The songs are poetic, yet not pathetic. It feels like an album of heartache and heartbreak, which I’m astonished I find myself listening to. Perhaps it’s a testament to the strength of the album and the songs on it that it can even endear this miserable bastard to it.
Stand out tracks include the beautiful Freedom and the equally wonderful Sing Around It, with notable nods to tracks like Love Rage On for something slightly speedier to deviate from the often slow pace of the album. What could I compare the album to? Well, I would say someone like Damien Rice, though they are as ugly as him, but certainly more interesting than him. Not that’s anything wrong with talented artists who earn bucks but have face like a camel, it’s just something about Rice that seems slimey, and untrustworthy. Still, I scare kids, so I better shut up.
Half These Songs Are About You is a stunning and amazing achievement with delicious music and catchy lyrics. It’s on the verge of pop music, but with the sort of credibility that most pop bands would die for. A truly loveable album.
Verdict: I may be partial to love songs now. A great album.
Track Listing
1. Fine Story
2. Girls
3. Call It Up
4. Faith
5. Long Distance
6. Jcb
7. Love Rage On
8. Freedom
9. Wash Away
10. Sing Around It
11. Worry