Untouched Takeaway

Nick Lowe established himself in the 1970s as a musician and producer dedicated to keeping strong, energetic, melodic rock n’ roll at the forefront of an industry increasingly turning to fashion. He led pub rockers Brinsley Schwarz, kickstarted Stiff Records with their debut single, produced Elvis Costello, and released powerful solo albums such as Jesus of Cool and Labour of Lust. After years of working at a manic pace — and earning the nickname “The Basher” — Lowe slowed down and grew up, learning to croon and enjoy the luxury of having a deep catalog of versatile tunes to perform at whim. This is his first-ever live album, recorded over two tours: 1995 with the Impossible Birds and 2001 with The Convincers. It’s a diverse collection that touches on his later solo albums that were current at the time, six from 1994’s The Impossible Bird and a couple apiece from 1998’s Dig My Mood and 2001’s The Convincer. The centerpiece, however, remains a contemplative keyboard version of “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding,” Lowe’s anthem that gains in resonance with each passing year.