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Along with The Sex Pistols, The Police and The Clash, Elvis Costello was one of the first artists to lend credibility to the punk/new wave format.
Even more than the other artists, Elvis has established himself as a composer of note as well as a performer. Linda Ronstadt had a hit with "Alison," Dave Edmunds with "Girls Talk," and there was a duet with George Jones on "Stranger In The House." And Elvis does occasionally pen a good song that works for another artist.
Since the release of his Armed Forces LP in '78, his writing has appeared more and more one-minded. The 20-song Get Happy album was a noisy mess, and his '79 and '81 appearances were overly rushed with no apparent concern for his audience.
Trust, Elvis' newest release, is a breath of fresh air. While it still sounds very alike in places, the pacing is better, and the textures of "Shot With His Own Gun," "Fish 'N' Chip Paper," "From a Whisper to a Scream," "Big Sister's Clothes," "Strict Time" and "Clubland" contrast well. These are also my favorite tracks on Trust.
"Big Sister's Clothes" is slow and ominous, while "Clubland" and "Strict Time" are Elvis at his best you can hardly understand a word he's singing. Even "Lovers Walk" has the big percussive African beat — a new one for Elvis.
A critical time has arrived for Costello. Having been a new wave fixture for nearly five years now, he can no longer rely on his tough wimp appeal and with his unique anti-Ray Charles demeanor to get by. And luckily he seems to have the chops to make it. Although Trust deftly fits the Elvis Costello mold, it takes some chances here and there, and where it does, it succeeds.
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