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Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
Elvis Costello
Chad Radford
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Elvis Costello is a bench mark of mediocrity when compared to his old school Stiff Records compatriots. Obviously he's better than Ian Dury, but he' nowhere nearly as cool as Nick Lowe or Wreckless Eric. Sure he's outsold them all, but that only makes him slightly more interesting than Bono or Sting. ... But I digress. Secret Profane & Sugarcane isn't a bad album, but it's a boring stroll into adult contemporary Americana.
"Down Among the Wines and Spirits" and "Complicated Shadows" are a strong, one-two punch of lurking strings and humid tales, but beyond that the album devolves into a poodle of British songwriter going walkabout on a Dr. John trip. Yeah sure T Bone Burnette's production is great and all, and there is a battle royale of formidable country players stacked up on each number. But the album is ultimately unmemorable — something to turn down low and play in the background when the in-laws come for a visit.
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