Labour of Lust

Lowe's second album set aside some of the studio and production hijinks of his debut in favor of a louder, rougher-edged overall sound. He was playing at the time in Rockpile and the band would alternate between recording Lowe's and fellow member Dave Edmund's albums. Lowe's songwriting was equal to the task of this monstrous band at their peak. In fact, "Big Kick, Plain Scrap" could never have existed without this band. From those enormous drums to the pure pop of "Cruel To Be Kind," this album is everything the first was, shined to perfection and turned up to eleven (when need be). Edmund's twanging guitar in particular is shimmering throughout. Sadly, this album was also his last with Rockpile. "You Make Me" hints at the quieter moments he was soon to begin exploring more fully.