Review of When I Was Cruel
Q, 2002-04-01
- James McNair

 

When I Was Cruel, 3/5

Having recorded albums with Burt Bacarach and mezzo soprano Anne Sofie Von Otter in recent years, Elvis Costello has decided to swap Chablis for Brown Ale , dig out his Silvertone electric, and re-trace his beat combo roots. For at least two thirds of this raw , lengthy record it`s an approach which works well . The Latin-tinged title track cleverly subverts lines cribbed from Abba`s Dancing Queen, and the fact that the opening bars of Daddy Can I Turn This? could be mistaken for an early Ozzy Osbourne rarity must be a good thing. There isn`t anything quiet special as, say , Veronica but the veins at Costello`s temples are throbbing again.