Painted From Memory Reviews
All-Music Guide (Stephen Thomas Erlewine)
Throughout his career, Elvis Costello valued one particular musical trait
above all others -- craftsmanship. No matter what style he tried, from country
to chamber-pop, Costello always appreciated the combination of talent and work
that was behind all classic songs. He demonstrated that from the start,
covering Burt Bacharach and Hal David's torch song I Just Don't Know What
To Do With Myself on his first tour, at a time when he was known as rock's
quintessential angry young man. Those incidents were indications of Costello's
deep musical appreciation and unpredictable eclecticism, yet some old-school
fans and critics were nevertheless shocked when Costello teamed with Bacharach
in 1998 to write and record a full album of new material, Painted From
Memory. They had previously written the lovely God Give Me
Strength, a sweeping ballad featured as the centerpiece in Allison Anders'
Grace of My Heart (and also included on this album). It was a stunning
song in the tradition of Bacharach's classic '60s collaborations with David,
and both composers were impressed enough with their own work to write a full
album. Wisely, they chose to work within the stylistic parameters of
Bacharach's '60s material, but Painted From Memory never sounds like a
stylistic exercise from either writer. Instead, it's a return to form for both
artists. Bacharach hasn't written melodies with such grace and power since his
glory days, and Costello hasn't released such a fully realized album since
King Of America. It's a testament to both musicians that even if the
album is clearly in Bacharach's majestic orchestral territory, it feels like a
genuine collaboration, not just a set of songs for which Costello provided the
lyrics. Often, the music not only evokes the spirit of Dionne Warwick, it is
reminiscent of Elvis' torchy ballads for Trust. Costello has kept
Bacharach from his schmaltzier tendencies, and Bacharach has kept Costello
from indulging his weakness for overwriting. Remarkably, Painted From
Memory showcases the strengths of both songwriters, and it has a special
place in both of their canons. With its lush arrangements, sighing brass and
strings, gentle pianos and backing vocals, it is a beautiful-sounding record,
one that is utterly timeless; it's a classicist album in the best sense, one
illustrating that not only is craft its own reward, but that it can be
genuinely moving. And that's the key to Painted From Memory -- it's
easy to admire the craft behind the album without even realizing how moving
the tales of love and loss are. Its melodies are immediate, its emotions
subtle, its impact lasting. Painted From Memory exceeds any
expectations any fan of Costello and Bacharach may have had, and it's all the
more special because of it. It's no less than a minor miracle.