If you do an online search for Nick Curran, you'll find hundreds of blogs, articles, and comments, all of which say, in one way or another, that he's a bad ass musician – and all of them are right. If Curran had been born in the '50s, he would still be a household name today.Reform School Girl, Curran's newest release with the Lowlifes, is a bluesy rock album that will leave you speechless. Curran's style will remind you of Little Richard, with a little of The Ramones thrown in, and a hint of every famous blues musician you've ever heard of – but he never sounds like a copy cat.
Lyrically, the album is classic blues, with a modern twist. On “Kill My Baby”, Curran says “this chick I got/she won't stop running around/I'm gonna kill this chick/if she don't simmer down” and on “Lusty L'il Lucy” he sings “give her a chance and she'll rock your world/she'll love then she'll leave you/then she'll love you again”. Each song is almost comically honest and Curran's voice is so perfectly grungy that you'll think he had to have been digitally made that way – but surprise! Curran & the Lowlifes recorded Reform School Girl on analog vintage equipment.
It's hard to say if the music or lyrics is more impressive. Each track has an almost violent piano part with rock-esque guitar solos and swinging drums, along with a slew of other instruments. The music is almost absurd; it fits the genre and lyrics so well. If you don't like the blues for some reason, Reform School Girl will make you love them.
Nick Curran was recently diagnosed with tongue cancer, and the tour supporting Reform School Girl has been postponed for a bit. Once he's back in action, do what you can to see him play – if the album is this perfect, I can hardly imagine what a live show would be like.
5/5 Stars
Abbey K. Davis – MuzikReviews.com Staff
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