Very Entertaining
Christopher Bushman | Portland, OR USA | 03/22/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This just arrived last week and I listened to it all weekend. Late last year I went though a Dave Edmunds / Nick Lowe / Rockpile thing and reading up on Pub Rock in general and Nick Lowe in particular led me to investigate Brinsley Schwarz.Surrender to the Rhythm is a fine introduction to a versatile roots rock band comfortable switching between songs reminiscent of 60's soul and early rock and roll as well as Byrds-style country and mid-period Beatles pop.Real toe-tappers, one and all."
A Surprise!
Morten Vindberg | Denmark | 05/24/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Having read several places that Brinsley Schwarz were among the most influental English bands of the early 1970's, I got curious and bought this compilation.
The music was really a surprise; and a positive one indeed. A surprise mainly because there is an American feel to many of these recordings; several sounding like a mixture of Crosby, Stills & Nash and early Steve Miller Band. But also a pleasant surprise because most of the songs are really great.
The compilation has its main focus on the last four albums the band recorded during 1970-74. Their first album is not represented and their second only features the single "Country Girl", which I remember having heard a couple of times on Danish radio. Another familiar song was "What's so Funny About Love, Peace and Understanding, which Elvis Costello recorded in the late 1970s
Lead-singer and bass-player Nick Lowe wrote the majority of the material. Lowe continued a musical career as a producer and as a solo artist. He has recorded several critically praised albums, and he had a hit with "Cruel to be Kind" in 1980.
This may be the cream of Brinsley Schwarz, but great tracks "Nightingale", "Silver Pistol", "Nervous on the Road" and "The Look That`s in Your Eye Tonight" are likely to make you want to check out more of their music."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1