Nixon's Head
intro || news || mp3 || reviews || extras
Salon When a band kicks off its album with the intro of "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and keeps pumping that riff throughout the number, the listener may make one of three assumptions. Either A) the band is too lame to come up with an original idea, B) they are record snobs, proud to wear their influences on their sleeves or C) they are record snobs, proud to wear their influences on their sleeves -- and yet, amazingly, truly have something original to offer.
In the case of Nixon's Head, the answer is C. Their use of the Beatles riff in "Saturate," the leadoff cut on Gourmet, is a statement of purpose. It heralds a 14-course ear candy pig-out courtesy of some exceedingly choosy epicures of pure pop.
Gourmet, the first full-length release from Nixon's Head, marks the return of the Philadelphia-based group after an eight-year hiatus. In their original incarnation, they made the world safe for alternative rock with such releases as the lighthearted EP The Doug Factor. Since then, they have lightened their punk edge, moving on to songs that have greater melodic and musical depth. (A good comparison would be English Settlement-era XTC, though that is due more to shared influences than actual homage.)
There is a refreshing lack of irony on Gourmet. Admittedly, the more humorous tracks, particularly "The Loving Finger" (sung by guest vocalist Dorothy Haug), would in lesser hands be downright embarrassing. Somehow, in Nixon's Head's care, such songs seem positively wistful. (It helps that Haug has the clear, unaffected voice of a Pennsylvanian Emmylou Harris.) Although Gourmet may not be, as its cover boasts, "five minutes ahead of its time," it can take its place among the sharpest and freshest pop albums since Stiff Records ruled the earth. - Dawn EdenBucketfull of Brains Is there a danger in being too bright? Nixon's Head run the risk of falling between any number of stools. Gourmet is a slow-burning concatenation of sixites pop influences, seventies' sixties pop-influences and a few steals of steals. If you're looking for the high-power blast or the ultra-sweet melody it's not really here, but if you like the gradual warmth of recognition and subtlety and variety, then make the effort with this.
Nixon's Head are a Philadelphia trio who've been knocking around, leaving and returning, for more than a decade. They're augmented by various pals and ex-members, part of an extended network that also includes the admirable Rolling Hayseeds (check their Tangled Up in You record). They run the gamut from Merseybeat to Nick Lowe to the Rezillos, riding on uplifting organ, clear acoustic guitars, and mighty enthusiasm and vigour. As I've hinted, there's no particular track that encapsulates them so I'll just poit you to the bouncy opener "Saturate" with its somewhat familiar intro, the rural folkish "Abington Friends", and "The Loving Finger" and "Zoom", both featuring guest vocalist Dorothy Haug who is a bona fide star. - Joey Webblisten.com Smartly melodic pop music from a veteran Philadelphia group. Nixon's Head combine an obvious love for British Invasion bands, Pre-Punk, and the sounds of Stiff Records as well as the art-pop of bands like Pere Ubu. The band's layered production features guitars that shimmer, jangle and crunch, pumping organ sounds and vocals that are alternately sardonic and wistful. This is music made by folks who love their record collections, who take pride in knowing who played what on every obscure record, and still take obvious delight in making music. - Tom Heyman