Nice

Chronique

Turning 40 has had quite an effect on Henry Rollins. His seemingly stodgy old sound has been blown to bits with the grooving, funky, and heavy as hell Nice. While Get Some Go Again had a lot of great songs, and the music of Mother Superior is just what Rollins needed, he never seemed to gel with the band on that album. Here, however, it sounds like Jim Mackenroth, Jim Wilson, and Marcus Blake had ideas of their own, and went for them 100 percent. It may be shocking to hear female vocals or a horn section coming out from behind Rollins, but here it works splendidly. With this band and this album, Rollins has finally shaken off the ghosts of the old band, as well as Black Flag. No, it's not punk, but that's okay. Rollins has always been a rock guy, and Nice is just that -- a great rock record. The problem that may arise from that is the argument that Rollins' lonely, "intense guy" image can't and won't work on a grooving rock record, but Rollins has adjusted in this respect as well. He seems to be a man who is looking at things with a fresh, positive perspective. With this incredibly versatile band alongside him, he may well be the "hardest working man in show business."
© Chris True /TiVo