And oh, let me count the ways:
1. When he decided to take "proper" singing lessons,
2. When he actually sang "properly" for the first time,
3. Appearing on Tony Bennett's MTV Unplugged — to sing! With Tony Bennett!
4. His bel canto version of "God Only Knows" with the Julliard String Quartet (anything he did with the Julliard String Quartet really)
5. The tuneless trip-hop (2002? gah) of When I Was Cruel,
6. That godawful Anne Sophie Otter album,
7.
8. That godawful North album,
9. His first orchestral composition, prophetically titled Il Sogno, which means "The Shark" in Italian.
10. Whenever he started wearing this:
And hey, that's just since the Nineties — surely, there are plenty more moments from The Other EC's permaspiraling career. Almost Blue anyone? The moment Nick Lowe chose obscurity over him? The lovely Ray Charles comment?
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 21:15 (5 years ago) Permalink
i got bored a long time ago, but actually i think he's done some good stuff since that point--brutal youth, and the bacharach collab.
i actually am open-minded about his newer stuff. i can imagine it being ok. i just don't have the time or money to buy it and find out.
― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 21:19 (5 years ago) Permalink
― john'n'chicago, Tuesday, 18 January 2005 21:24 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 21:30 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 21:35 (5 years ago) Permalink
― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 21:36 (5 years ago) Permalink
The Ray Charles thing is a red herring, and way too early. "The Only Flame in Town," with Daryl Hall, was a sort of precursor to shark-jumpage, but he did make some extremely good records after that. The Bachrach stuff approaches criminality, but that could be indulgently seen as a side trip on what is still a fundamentally rock and roll journey.
I would probably plump for North as his shark-jump moment, the marrying Krall, or maybe the breaking up with Cait. But I realize that I have a higher tolerance for him than most non-fans would have.
― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 21:37 (5 years ago) Permalink
Nah, fuck it. I've got nothing.
― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 21:42 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 21:57 (5 years ago) Permalink
Anyway, new possible nominee for the exact moment: the hyperchipper McCartney-McManus mistake "My Brave Face."
― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:01 (5 years ago) Permalink
― everything, Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:02 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:13 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:42 (5 years ago) Permalink
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:48 (5 years ago) Permalink
― latetotheparty (latetotheparty), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:54 (5 years ago) Permalink
(x-post)
― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:54 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Autumn Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:08 (5 years ago) Permalink
x-post
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:09 (5 years ago) Permalink
― JD from CDepot, Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:11 (5 years ago) Permalink
you can jump the shark and still make the occasional decent song and listenable album, though.
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:16 (5 years ago) Permalink
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:17 (5 years ago) Permalink
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:19 (5 years ago) Permalink
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:21 (5 years ago) Permalink
This Years Model = "oh, man he's found a great band! he's totally captured the whole frustrated young guy thing."
Armed Forces = "oh, ok he has nothing to say other than Don't Be A Nazi To Me, Just Give Sex When Needed but he's gonna keep getting more pretentious and self-congratulatory with every album"
It's harsh (I like Brutal Youth actually), but if there was a moment where in hindsight he revealed what his bag was, it was then.
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:26 (5 years ago) Permalink
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:27 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:30 (5 years ago) Permalink
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:31 (5 years ago) Permalink
:-O
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:32 (5 years ago) Permalink
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:34 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:34 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:36 (5 years ago) Permalink
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:37 (5 years ago) Permalink
details plz! (I'm a big fan of EC's cameo in Spice World and on Third Rock from the Sun)
― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:41 (5 years ago) Permalink
― dave q (listerine), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:43 (5 years ago) Permalink
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:44 (5 years ago) Permalink
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:45 (5 years ago) Permalink
― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:46 (5 years ago) Permalink
― veronica mcmanus, Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:54 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Ken L (Ken L), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 23:58 (5 years ago) Permalink
― chuck, Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:02 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:05 (5 years ago) Permalink
― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:09 (5 years ago) Permalink
― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:11 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:13 (5 years ago) Permalink
― everything, Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:14 (5 years ago) Permalink
― chris andrews (fraew), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:17 (5 years ago) Permalink
― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:18 (5 years ago) Permalink
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:18 (5 years ago) Permalink
That being said, Beyond Belief is quite a jam.
― Oh, Bevis and I thought you were so rugged, Friday, 27 February 2009 23:50 (1 year ago) Permalink
not making excuses for EC's alleged racist remark, but it is pretty amazing that something the dude said while drunk in 1978 is still a hot button issue apparently? is there more history of him being a racist other than that one incident?
― tylerw, Friday, 27 February 2009 23:53 (1 year ago) Permalink
No, quite the opposite actually.
― staggerlee, Saturday, 28 February 2009 02:59 (1 year ago) Permalink
For me, it was the "Clubland" single. Everything that came before had an incandescent perfection. But Clubland was laborious, too long, dull, and a crushing disappointment to me. I never much liked the "Trust' album and its ugly, coke-tinted cover. I could not agree more with Tipsy Mothra's description of Imperial Bedroom "as "beyond belief" with a very long b-side." I reunited with the abuser for "Every Day I Write The Book," which I loved, only to be fucked over by the atrocious "Punch The Clock." Things have never been the same between us since then, although I can rarely resist hearing his latest. I totally swore him off with 'North," who didn't? But I've shamefully heard all the ones since and I don't recall a single song!
― Fishes, You Hit Me With A Flounder (Dr. Joseph A. Ofalt), Saturday, 28 February 2009 04:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
Heh -- the coke and chemicals make Trust his most confused, confusing, best album.
― The Screaming Lobster of Challops (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 28 February 2009 05:38 (1 year ago) Permalink
Just learned from the intraweb that his wife did a duet with Ray Charles on what I think was his last album. What the significance of this is I don't know.
― Alan Lo (max) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 1 November 2009 22:55 (10 months ago) Permalink
has anyone out there put together a good 80-minute comp of EC's stuff from this decade? i don't have everything, otherwise I'd do it. But I'm sure there are a handful of good to great songs from each album ...
― tylerw, Sunday, 1 November 2009 23:05 (10 months ago) Permalink
that's a good idea, I might try and do that sometime (although it would be mainly Imposters stuff, haven't heard North or most of the various collaboration albums).
― some dude, Sunday, 1 November 2009 23:58 (10 months ago) Permalink
I couldn't even listen to the last album all the way through, and this is coming from someone who was once an obsessive huge fan (and still really likes things like "mighty like a rose")
― akm, Monday, 2 November 2009 04:56 (10 months ago) Permalink
Count me in as another irritated fan. Anyone with a POX list?
― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 2 November 2009 05:45 (10 months ago) Permalink
I got a 'hitsvids' DVD from Fopp, purely for the 'early TV appearances' extras.
Not played it yet...
― Mark G, Monday, 2 November 2009 08:01 (10 months ago) Permalink
― akm, Sunday, November 1, 2009 11:56 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Secret, Profane & Sugarcane ain't great but it's better than Momofuku imo
― BIG HOOT aka the smalleydriver (some dude), Monday, 2 November 2009 14:58 (10 months ago) Permalink
I take back Armed Forces being his "shark jump," as he was stilling yelling about how ex-girlfriends are like nazis. The answer seems obviously Almost Blue now.
― da croupier, Monday, 2 November 2009 15:09 (10 months ago) Permalink
His last album debuted at #13!
― lihaperäpukamat (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 November 2009 15:16 (10 months ago) Permalink
thank starbucks
― da croupier, Monday, 2 November 2009 15:17 (10 months ago) Permalink
does Starbucks really push his shit out there like they would with McCartney or whoever, though? i think anyone with a reliable cult is racking up exceptionally high Billboard peaks in the slumping marketplace these days (see also: Sonic Youth's first top 20 album ever this year).
― BIG HOOT aka the smalleydriver (some dude), Monday, 2 November 2009 15:28 (10 months ago) Permalink
I hang out at Starbucks most Sunday afternooons to read, write, and grade, and I've never seen anyone buy those albums. There's a pretty neat "post-punk" comp called Circa 1980 that's played in house, though.
― lihaperäpukamat (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 November 2009 15:31 (10 months ago) Permalink
I went in there last night- there's a certain hour when it's the only thing open- and I saw thay had some kind of post-punk comp called Up, Down, Turn Around.
I take back Armed Forces being his "shark jump"Anthony, you broke my heart.
― tal farlow's pather panchali (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 2 November 2009 15:46 (10 months ago) Permalink
Oh, that must be it: I saw "Temptation" on the track list.
― lihaperäpukamat (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 November 2009 15:48 (10 months ago) Permalink
That's "Get Happy"
― Mark G, Monday, 2 November 2009 15:59 (10 months ago) Permalink
I believe a marching band of octopi on the Muppet Show did a good version under Animal broke it up.
― tal farlow's pather panchali (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 2 November 2009 16:07 (10 months ago) Permalink
Anthony, you broke my heart.
Armed is still the beginning of the end, it's just that shark-jumping requires losing the script entirely, like say when a punk ranter records an album of country covers
― da croupier, Monday, 2 November 2009 16:27 (10 months ago) Permalink
hey now don't hate the Mekons.
― lihaperäpukamat (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 November 2009 16:28 (10 months ago) Permalink
shark-jumping also requires that there be nothing worthwhile after that point, which i dunno, EC sure has been inconsistent since those first 3 but there's a few pretty great records in there (xpost)
― BIG HOOT aka the smalleydriver (some dude), Monday, 2 November 2009 16:29 (10 months ago) Permalink
i dunno, there might be a good simpsons episode or two in the decade plus since maude flanders died, but i'd still probably put the leap there.
does Starbucks really push his shit out there like they would with McCartney or whoever, though?
i dunno, and I know Carly Simon was bitching about the lack of promotion, but it's success compared to momofuku the year before probably can't entirely be chalked up to the times. guessing hear music put a little more into promotion than lost highway, at least for the first week.
― da croupier, Monday, 2 November 2009 16:34 (10 months ago) Permalink
and as alfred points out with the mekons, shark-jumping is pretty subjective: most (including me) would say the mekons FOUND the script when they got into country. so someone could say almost blue was elvis growing out of his juvenalia or something if they wanted.
― da croupier, Monday, 2 November 2009 16:35 (10 months ago) Permalink
Momofuku had a weird release schedule (CD release weeks after digital/vinyl) that all but guaranteed it would have a lower than averate chart debut, but yeah
― BIG HOOT aka the smalleydriver (some dude), Monday, 2 November 2009 16:37 (10 months ago) Permalink
I love most, if not all, of Costello's 80s records. Sometimes even more than the 70s stuff. And there are plenty of 90s records I'd happily listen to ...Is there anyone who'll rep for the Allen Toussain collab? I haven't heard it.
― tylerw, Monday, 2 November 2009 16:38 (10 months ago) Permalink
Going country is almost a textbook false shark-jump move at this point - it seems at first glance like the end of the road but it hardly ever is. cf Mekons, Dylan, Byrds, Jonathan Richman, Ween, Kid Rock.
I wish a big rock band nowdays had the balls to pull off a non-ironic Nashville Skyline transformation. Too bad there's no more big rock bands.
― Brio, Monday, 2 November 2009 18:09 (10 months ago) Permalink
There's always Bon Jovi. Um, never mind.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 2 November 2009 18:11 (10 months ago) Permalink
Is there anyone who'll rep for the Allen Toussain collab? I haven't heard it.
boring, like everything else since the Bacharach collab (which I do like half of).
I did see him with an orchestra a few years ago (doing the same stuff that is on "my flame burns blue") and it was excellent, but the album is boring to listen to. he can be a great performer to watch but these days listening to him is snoozeville. even when he does the rock thing again I'm bored. I think I've just had enough; he has way more worthy material than most, I'm happy with his catalogue, but I think I'm done. I can't imagine an album he could make now that would interest me.
― akm, Monday, 2 November 2009 18:16 (10 months ago) Permalink
Never heard the Bacharach album. A friend swears that "Toledo" is one of the four or five greatest things Elvis C ever recorded.
― lihaperäpukamat (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 November 2009 18:25 (10 months ago) Permalink
I guess going country can mean jumping the shark sometimes
― Brio, Monday, 2 November 2009 18:27 (10 months ago) Permalink
he can be a great performer to watch but these days listening to him is snoozevillei've seen him twice this decade (both imposters shows). One was pretty awesome (the When I Was Cruel tour) and the other was a textbook example of seeing EC "punch the clock."
― tylerw, Monday, 2 November 2009 18:37 (10 months ago) Permalink
Painted From Memory and "Toledo" in particular are great, imo
― retrunofthaghmac (some dude), Monday, 2 November 2009 18:38 (10 months ago) Permalink
I haven't spent much time with Painted From Memory, but I know plenty people who love it.
― tylerw, Monday, 2 November 2009 20:27 (10 months ago) Permalink
wikipedia picture cracks me up for some reason. looks like bono's granddad or something.
― scott seward, Friday, 6 November 2009 17:45 (9 months ago) Permalink
vaguely interested in elvis' costello show live series thing -- el mocambo is first ...
― tylerw, Friday, 6 November 2009 22:47 (9 months ago) Permalink
"El Mocambo" is awesome. Thanks, amphetamines! You'll never listed to "My Aim is True" again.
Clearly the jump the shark moment was "Juliet Letters," where he learned Italian, how to read sheet music, and took singing lessons. He's had some great stuff since then, but he's gone too far up the butt of formalism to really enjoy it. It's the Elvis does Burt album! It's the Elvis does country (again) album! It's the Elvis tries to sound like Elvis again album! It's the Elvis does jazz album! Etc.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 6 November 2009 22:58 (9 months ago) Permalink
I will admit to Juliet Letters being kinda lame, but I also kinda like it.
― tylerw, Friday, 6 November 2009 23:02 (9 months ago) Permalink
Josh OTM
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 6 November 2009 23:09 (9 months ago) Permalink
Yup.
― irmão tuomas (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 6 November 2009 23:09 (9 months ago) Permalink
el mocambo is sweet -- there are a bunch of late 70s attractions shows that are so frenzied, like the band members are trying to strangle each other.
― tylerw, Friday, 6 November 2009 23:13 (9 months ago) Permalink
Nick Lowe said something like "there was no love lost in that band" so maybe they were.
― irmão tuomas (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 6 November 2009 23:14 (9 months ago) Permalink
I always enjoyed Elvis Costello even more than the first Elvis! My mom and I used to have arguments about the two Elvises and she'd tell me to shut up in the end, maybe because I won. I was still sad when Elvis died though!
― Dan Landings, Friday, 6 November 2009 23:32 (9 months ago) Permalink
One was pretty awesome (the When I Was Cruel tour) and the other was a textbook example of seeing EC "punch the clock."
yeah i saw him on the when i was cruel tour and it was amazing....billy bob thorton was the opener!
― The looming shadow of the big baller/shot caller (M@tt He1ges0n), Friday, 6 November 2009 23:35 (9 months ago) Permalink
I saw him on that tour too, and agree. He dug into the chest: opened with "I Hope You're Happy Now," did "I Wanna Be Loved" and "Hoover Factory." The only false note was his mugging through "I Want You."
― I yanked that sucker hard, and work it did. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 6 November 2009 23:39 (9 months ago) Permalink
there are a bunch of late 70s attractions shows that are so frenzied, like the band members are trying to strangle each other.
I was obsessed with bootlegs from the '78 tour for quite a while, they are just so good. Essential companions to the LPs.
― sleeve, Friday, 6 November 2009 23:44 (9 months ago) Permalink
Clearly the jump the shark moment was "Juliet Letters,"
No; both All This Useless Beauty and When I Was Cruel postdate TJL, and each is well worth the time. I think marrying Diana Krall might have done it; North was his first album with no redeeming features whatsoever, and nothing since that point has been in the least memorable.
― I've got some funny ideas about what sounds good (staggerlee), Saturday, 7 November 2009 07:15 (9 months ago) Permalink
When I saw Elvis he committed the cardinal sin (to me) of either a) lagging behind the beat with his singing (a lot of older rockers do this) and/or b) changing the melody entirely for god knows why. Needless to say I was disappointed.
― Jouster, Saturday, 7 November 2009 10:14 (9 months ago) Permalink