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The Nice - Ars Longa Vita Brevis CD (album) cover

ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS

The Nice

 

Symphonic Prog

3.24 | 157 ratings

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homelitegravely
4 stars lee jackson; greatest singer in the history of progressive rock.

...and i mean it. there were reasons, my droogies, why the man was chirping for what at the time was sharp new edge of new music. those tobacco-colored tones still stand out against anyone you care to put before him. raw and thick, nasty and dry, lee was no less a instrument than keith's moog, with as many limitations and the same boundless potential. line him up with similar atonal crooners like beefheart, lou reed, tom waits or even dylan (which he covered in a brilliantly postmodern way) and watch how the passion comes forward.

i'm forever waiting for someone to compile a tribute to the nice, with proper vocalists re-interpreting his takes on the original nice tracks. the juxtaposition alone would be worth the effort (let's hear mirah, amy winehouse, or the girls from mum cover little arabella - ouch) . say what you might about his style, but find us another anything like him

on 'ars longa vita brevis we get the chance to hear him as well-produced as he ever will be with the nice, having what sounds like a blast with the all new multitracking tech and riffing off the symphonic psychedelics of the day. there is a freak range of sounds emanating from him on happy freuds that seriously challenges keith's antics.

so for this and other nice albums i say: please listen up all you shallow haters; jackson's vocals are as much a part of the experience as anything else in the mix. surely there must be someone out there who understands. oh, and he's a great bassist as well. and those other guys on keyboards and drums certainly sound pretty good too.

homelitegravely | 4/5 |

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