Nice Man And The Bad Boys - The Art Of Hanging Out

  by Geraint Jones

published: 23 / 1 / 2006

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Review

Although now augmented to a full band line-up, the Nice Man moniker is essentially the nom de plume of Francis MacDonald, former BMX Bandit, sometime Teenage Fanclub drummer and proprietor of Shoeshine and Spit And Polish Records. 'The Art of Hanging Out' has taken a couple of years to finally see the light of day, surprisingly on German label Firestation Records this time, rather than on either of his own labels, unlike his singularly credited Nice Man debut ‘Sauchiehall And Hope (A Pop Opera)’, which appeared on Shoeshine in 2002. Recorded in Spain in 2003, ‘The Art Of Hanging Out’ beefs up proceedings quite substantially since that debut, whilst retaining MacDonald’s long established gifts for a hook and a winsome lyric; his modus operandi not diverting too far from love and girls, which still allows him plenty of room for manoeuvre! While MacDonald and his new cohorts aren’t exactly treading any fresh ground here, his pop credentials are undeniable and on this evidence nigh on irresistible too. If he can keep churning out reflective pop nuggets of this calibre his increased standing among pop’s higher echelons ought to be guaranteed. Simplicity is the key, and here they effortlessly navigate their way through the crowded choppy waters of pop wannabees with aplomb. I challenge anyone to deny the power pop thrills of opener ‘Forever Is A Long Time Without You’, the cheekily inventive ‘One Minute Of Your Time’ or the gently majestic instrumental pleasures of ‘Bambino’. Surely, anyone failing to be impressed and enthralled by such melodic gifts would be in possession of a very cold heart indeed. Arguably as much a guilty pleasure as an innocent one in these increasingly cynical times, the long wait for ‘The Art Of Hanging Out', given the pleasures it provides, was really no time at all. More of this quality, whenever it’s ready, would be most welcome, so I sincerely hope the closing ‘Nice Man RIP’ is merely a MacDonald jest.

Track Listing:-

1 Forever Is Such A Long Time
2 Lines
3 Hey Slinky
4 One Minute O Your Time
5 Punk Rock Girl
6 Rain Rain Rain
7 Cayo
8 Love Is A Game For Two To Play
9 Bambino
10 Mine Mine Mine
11 Tambourine
12 Pretty Brown Eyes
13 Lazybones
14 Cheeky Love
15 Nice Man Rip
16 Cayo (Demo)
17 Bambino (Demo)
18 Let's Have A Meaningful Relationship

Label Links:-

http://www.firestation-records.de/
https://www.facebook.com/firestationre
https://www.youtube.com/user/Firestati