This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Cobra Verde leader John Petkovic is a Cleveland radio host, an entertainment writer, an online ’zine editor, a former aide to a Yugoslavian prince, an ex-Guided By Voices guitarist — oh, and the new saviour of rock ’n’ roll.
It doesn’t matter if you buy that last credit or not; he apparently does, and that’s all that matters. And I’ve gotta admit, Nightlife, his glam-rock masterpiece of a third album, has made me a believer. If might do the same for you. On track after track, Petkovic expertly descends into the velvet goldmine and emerges dusted with sequins and bearing ’70s-vintage nuggets reminiscent of Iggy Pop, Roxy Music, David Bowie, T. Rex, The Who and The New York Dolls — all of which he sculpts into sexy, feather-boa anthems for the next millennium. Hail the new lizard king.
