"Labour of Love" casts attention on a facet of Nick Lowe's talent that's surprisingly uncelebrated--his songwriting prowess. Having made his mark as a producer, performer, and sideman, Lowe's skills as a singer-songwriter have been taken for granted, but, as this tribute confirms, Nick has long possessed a knack for mating blissful hooks with pithy couplets. Here an assortment of players and singers from a range of genres tackle Lowe gems dating from his new wave heyday up through his brilliant late-'90s comeback. Proving the adaptability of Lowe's material is half the fun here, as Joe Louis Walker turns the '70s anthem ("What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" into a midtempo soul lament, "Half a Boy and Half a Man" is transformed by Sleepy LaBeef and C.J. Chenier into a zydeco workout, and "Soulful Wind" is given the deep blues treatment by Guy Davis. With Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, and Dar Williams along for the ride, the 13-song set deftly mixes and matches stars, commendable journeymen, and crack players into a tribute worthy of one of contemporary music's unsung heroes. --Steven Stolder