Should I decide that I just can't keep up with Mr MacManus?

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I think I have fifteen Elvis Costello records on the shelf. He's probably my longest-held musical allegiance. But I just don't think I have the energy to keep up, and I may just stop trying.

I've come a long way with Elvis. I like punky Elvis. New-Wavey Elvis. Classical Elvis. Crooner Elvis. R&B Elvis. Country Elvis. But every time he releases something I find myself sighing wearily. I like some songs from When I Was Cruel. North was possibly the most boring record I'd ever heard. I completely skipped the Bachrach phase, Anne-Sophie whatever, and "Deep Dead Blue."

I applaud that he's trying so hard to stay interesting. And I'm glad he's not just running around recycling his Greatest Hits. But let's face it, I'm never going to feel the way I felt when I first put My Aim Is True or Punch the Clock on the turntable. Or, for that matter, King of America and All This Useless Beauty.

― The Mad Puffin, Wednesday, 5 January 2005 15:56 (nineteen years ago) link

I stopped at Spike if that makes you feel any better.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 15:58 (nineteen years ago) link

So did I. I would have before, but he signed it for me...

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:01 (nineteen years ago) link

i stopped caring after trust -- his last great album -- but kept up anyway until spike -- his first embarrassing one -- and continued checking in on him every once in awhile just to make sure i wasn't missing anything. i gave up totally and completely when he became an occasional vanity fair correspondent.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:03 (nineteen years ago) link

A fine reason, Mark. Similarly, that was the only reason I bought Too Tough to Die by the Ramones (which was also the cut-off point).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:04 (nineteen years ago) link

When they had those 'executive' reissues (post the 'deluxe' and 'enhanced' versions), I plumped for "Get Happy" and "Punch the Clock". Those meant the most. So next really big purge, rrr going to GET IT!!!

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:08 (nineteen years ago) link

Spike was also the last Costello album I picked up. The early albums are the only ones I have now.

I don't know the name of the song, but I have heard one on the radio off of his new album that has more of a nasty edge than anything of his I have heard in a long time. The song has a cool guitar line that reminds me a bit of Mark Ribot's playing on Rain Dogs. I liked it.

― earlnash, Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:08 (nineteen years ago) link

everybody otm.

See my second and third post on this thread: Artists I don't want to hear any more from and/or about in 2005 -- an excercise in FUTILITY!

Anne-Sophie whatever
NOte: EC's collaborator was Anne Sofie Von Otter, not to be confused with Anne-Sophie Mutter, a violinist (one of top, or so I hear) who is married to Andre Previn, making her Woody Allen's mother-in-law, sort of.

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:12 (nineteen years ago) link

For good post-Spike Elvis, all you really need is Extreme Honey.

"So Like Candy," "Veronica," "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror," "Tramp the Dirt Down" and "The Bridge I Burned" are worthwhile and are on it. The only song I think it's missing is "Little Atoms."

― The Mad Puffin, Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:22 (nineteen years ago) link

"Similarly, that was the only reason I bought Too Tough to Die by the Ramones (which was also the cut-off point)."

But Alex, that's a great album, no?

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:31 (nineteen years ago) link

Saw him give an energetic performance on the telly on Austin City Limits -- he's playing the new material with this really gritty, distorted hollow body that sounded pretty great. The band jammed out more than I expected them to on some numbers as well. All in all an affirming performance, although it is hard to reconcile the look of the middle aged Costello with his formerly slight build sometimes.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:47 (nineteen years ago) link

BoS, I've enjoyed him live recently as well. And he lets Faragher sing backup, which I don't think I've ever seen him do before.

But I'm unlikely to buy The Delivery Man for a good long while, if at all.

― The Mad Puffin, Wednesday, 5 January 2005 16:59 (nineteen years ago) link

Yeah, I don't imagine I'll buy it either. The songs weren't great, but they were definitely played with gusto.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 18:04 (nineteen years ago) link

Brutal Youth is really good.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 19:32 (nineteen years ago) link

Deep Dead Blue is actually pretty terrific.

― Douglas (Douglas), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 19:58 (nineteen years ago) link

[Fingers in ears] Na-na-na-na-na-na

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 5 January 2005 19:59 (nineteen years ago) link

Kyle, what from Brutal Youth is worthwhile, apart from "Kinder Murder," "13 Steps Lead Down," "Sulky Girl," and "London's Brilliant Parade" (which are on Extreme Honey)?

― The Mad Puffin, Wednesday, 5 January 2005 20:12 (nineteen years ago) link

am i the only person that loves "Painted from Memory"?

― JD from CDepot, Thursday, 6 January 2005 06:07 (nineteen years ago) link

A BassMan, A Planus, A MacManus- Veronica!

― Ken L (Ken L), Thursday, 6 January 2005 06:22 (nineteen years ago) link

oh, but Delivery Man! everyone should hear "Country Darkness," at least. Very well-structured, Elvis' song-writing in full form.

Maybe I'm biased, I am from the South, after all.

― kt, Thursday, 6 January 2005 15:10 (nineteen years ago) link

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