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Nizlopi – Make it happen
I AM ALWAYS slightly dubious about overtly political albums. As an apathetic politics student I generally find idealistic earnestness vaguely depressing. The new Nizlopi album is no exception.
Nizlopi are yet another band who released one popular song and then faded into the background. Their first album was good, but not spectacular. The sweet childlike quality that made The JCB Song such a hit made their subsequent love songs sound a little like teenage offerings.
This new album moves away from the clichéd love songs and into the realm of new post-materialist politics; but ends up sounding a lot like the work of naïve schoolboys who have just recently learnt to read a newspaper.
That’s not to say that there isn’t a smattering of over-indulgent mush; Find Me and Love Is are two stunning examples of this.
Politically speaking, Nizlopi cover all the normal topics of gay rights, peace, love, and harmony; they even get Benjamin Zephaniah involved to say that we should all wear hemp. The major problem with this is their insistence on name-dropping.
From Citigroup to Amy Winehouse, all the staples of modern society get a mention in an effort to focus their tirade. Most of the time this comes out as a failing attempt at pop-politics; Part of Me, for example, is little more than a long list including Margaret Thatcher, God and Dr Dre and claiming that ‘part of them is gay’.
Whilst fighting for gay rights is laudable, the repetition and cringe-worthy lyrics just detract from the sentiment. The real low of the album is England Up Rise. Faux-rapping, an attempt at humanitarian nationalism and a dodgy tagline make this song certainly worth a miss.
That said, this album is not a complete tale of woe. John Parker’s bass playing is a beautiful background to Luke Concannon’s earnest vocals. There are hidden gems like Last Night in Dakar, which is an enchantingly yearning piece fused with eastern elements.
Musically, Part of Me is simple but charming. Start Beginning shows that when they manage to match uncomplicated lyrics with a relevant theme and good musicality they can produce a good tune.
So, in brief, there is hope. But as long as they are still using lyrics like ‘its way cool to me if you turn out to be gay’ they should be relegated to the school playground.
Rating: 1/5
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Go see them live then right about Nizlopi again…..
Nizlopi are a breath of fresh air in a world clogged with waste from Simon Cowell’s over-worked crap factory. Shades of Tracy Chapman and Van Morrison are all over thier music, which is integral, soulful and best of all completely unpretentious. How many, if any, groups can you say that about these days? I welcomed the reintroduction of the indie scene back to the UK, but lets be honest there are ALOT of bands sounding alike. Its getting a little wearing. Nizlopi are completely original and i agree wholeheartedly with Rufio when i say go and see them live. Its where they are at their very best. As a music writer, you owe it to your craft.
Rufio, surely it would be exceptionally bad practice for a reviewer to let the quality of a band’s live show affect his or her judgement of their album? They’re two very different things, which is why they merit separate review sections in any newspaper.
“right about…” never mind albums, buy yourself a dictionary.
EDITOR NOTE: Comment modified due to offensive language.
Nizlopi capture people all over the world and all ages groups, i actually hate you for slating them like this!
Go listen to your same old same old, NIZLOPI FOR WORLD DOMINATION!
sket! you dont know anything Niz are a completly different act brekaing the mould of conventional artists, so i say go shuv your stricle where the sun dont shine!
EDITOR NOTE: Comment modified due to offensive language and content.
this must be your first article as its really bad i would be so embarrassed if i was you,
i hope you lose your job and every other job you get, you don’t deserve or have the right to write about things you know nothing about, i have wasted like 3 minutes on you writing this hate message hope your happy Rachel!!!!!!!
Nizlopi rules!!!!!!!!!
extremely ignorant and subjective for a reporter i. I think you are wrong and i personaly agree with comments made by Danni.
OMG hesss maddddd!! Nizlopi r f***** amazin.
Editors Note: Comment edited due to offensive language
I did think this was pretty subjective for an article,
I thought the previous album was genius, a complete breath of fresh air and sometimes, theres nothing wrong with ‘cliche’d’ love songs? Most people also can relate in one way or another to their lyrics.
However, I did agree with a few things you said on some degree, I felt that the politics approach didn’t really work to much of an extent, ‘part of me’, just doesn’t sound right when in comparison to other songs.
Best song of the album by far, Last night in Dakar.
You seem to mention positives, then throw them out of the window when giving it a 1/5.
All suggests; hugely subjective.
Unreal. Catchy, acousically sounding music that is feel good through and through. How you don’t rate their new album is a bit of a mystery to be honest. I could go on but there is’nt one comment here that backs up what you write. Go buy a hearing aid…
Looking over the comments, as Stevie points out, none back up the reviewer. However, there is a bias here that is going unnoticed.
The viewer statistics for this story indicate almost everyone is coming from a Nizlopi fan forum.
I’ve not listened to the album so I can’t comment on the review but it seems to me fans of Nizlopi are unlikely to agree with a negative review. I personally think all the negative comments far from prove the review is wrong, all they show is an overwhelming bias of the commenters.
Regardless of these issues, music is a subjective topic. I’d like to hear suggestions advising how to make a music review totally objective.
You completely missed the point of the album. Job well done on writing a crap review.
I found your review to be very interesting. I am a fan of Nizlopi but am interested in what people think whether it be posotive or negative.
I really like the new C.D. but like all good things it has to be given time. All i can say in its defence is really this. Heard with a cynical and somewhat jaded musical ear, which mine feels like at times I would agree with your review. But having been to gigs and spoken to both John and Luke I know this is not the case.
They dont really care that theyre lyrics at times appear naive and juvanile. They dont care if they dont look cool and trendy or live in a fashionable area. They produce honest original sounding soul music which can make you cry and lift your spirit.
When listening to the CD you have to try and put your doubts and bitterness to the back of your mind and just believe. I know its hard as we’re constantly being conned by the music industry. But it can be done, you can make it happen.
Unbelievable, firstly I do think the article was a bit harsh! I agree with a lot of the comments here, that you have to see Nizlopi live, then you’ll change your mind about there songs. Does it really matter if they are political? What happened to freedom of speech??? They are only writing what they feel is wrong with the world. I can’t speak on behalf of the world, but I do know that the majority of my friends, family and even myself totally agrees with the points that the guys of Nizlopi are making, its just that none of us are talented enough to write them into a song.
Second, it is a refreshing change to hear a different style of music rather than the typical indie bands that are arising which (in my opinion) all sound the same, or the factory made pop bands that are plastered through our radios and into our heads, but please note that these are my opinions and I think that you Rachel should have written that in your review. I might be mistaken, but the way I read your review sounded like you were speaking on behalf of everyone else, you might like to re think the way you write an article rather than assuming everyone agrees with your opinion as this is the impression I got when reading “That said, this album is not a complete tale of woe” and “there is hope” is how you put it!
Adding to this, may I correct you again. Just because Nizlopi had a song in the charts and haven’t released any further records in the album charts, it doesn’t mean they have faded into the background and it was wrong of you to say this. I am a folk musician and I visit a lot of Folk festivals where I see a number of folk musicians including, well what do you know Nizlopi as one of the main acts! The folk scene is becoming more and more popular and just because Nizlopi are not seen in our manufactured charts of music, it doesn’t mean they have disappeared completely from very genre of music around. So may I advise you to check your facts before writing a very sad pathetic review about a band you have clearly not researched, infact maybe you should stick to politics as you seem to think you know all about it!!
with any review there is going to be some sort of bias, if a nizlopi fan rights it there will be favourable aspects, yet if someone with an impartial view dislikes the music then there obviously will not be a good review, its all a matter of personal opinion which everyone diserves
I think that Nizlopi has grown a lot music-wise from the other records to this one. They have an ability to create such impressive music that it’s almost unfair that they don’t get the recognition for it!
They are political, yes, and I think that’s great. There’s so many things happening in the world worth discussing/supporting/critisizing, it’s obvious that someone is going to talk about them.
The gay song it’s a little bit weird for me, nevertheless it doesn’t do harm to the album I think.
Even though I’ve never seen them perform (because I live in SouthAmerica) I know they’re the kind of band you have to see live in order to get their vibe if you haven’t understood what they’re about through the album. Luckily for me, I get them even without going to their gig, but maybe you should…
you’re right! The more right-thinking people that rise up against the outrageous rubbish that is ‘nizlopi’ the better. They should be crushed. No opportunity should be missed to revile them in print. And i also recommend attending their concerts (with earplugs, and maybe even with a blindfold) in order to pelt them with rotting matter and broken bottles. They are 2 of the most sanctimonious, talentless *** i have ever seen/heard, and should be made to *** for crimes against music
Edited 6th July 2008
Sigh… some people don’t appreciate good music…