|
Yes, that's THE Elvis Costello, and yes, that's a string quartet with him in the cover photo. And no, there's no drummer and no electric guitarist. Just Elvis, his songs, two violins, a viola and a cello. In an age when we seem to need a label for everything we hear, Elvis and the Brodskys have created a disc that defies all categories: equal parts art song, pop song and avant-garde experimentation. The Juliet Letters is the first real breath of fresh air the music industry has had in ages.
Not that fans will have a hard time recognizing their favorite Angry Young Man, however — tunes like "I Almost Had a Weakness" and "This Offer Is Unrepeatable" hark back to the Elvis of old and could easily be arranged for the Attractions, his former band. But gorgeous moments like "The Birds Will Still Be Singing" represent a wholly new approach, and the Brodsky Quartet's sympathetic and brisk arrangements are the perfect foil to Costello's (shall we say) distinctive voice. Not everyone will like this disc, but everyone should hear it.
|
