Review of Painted From Memory
London Times, 1998-10-03
Rating: 6/10

On paper it promised to be the greatest song writing partnership since
McCartney met Lennon.  The last track, God Give Me Strength, bodes well,
and remains outstanding, Costello's impassioned vocal pleading against
the waterfall of Bacharach's strings.  Toledo and Tears At The Birthday
Party also impress.  Indeed, Elvis gets to be Sinatra in the wee, small
hours - but accomplished as, say This House Is Empty Now is, it hardly
stacks up against Walk On By or Stranger In The House because the album
has an inflated sense of it's own importance, with Elvis trying too hard
and Burt throwing everything but the kitchen sink.  So, in practice,
those supreme craftsman, Elvis and Burt, don't quiet gel; hence, this is
an album to admire not necessarily to play very often.