|
Elvis Costello is a rarity. His music contains all the intense energy, cynicism, frustration, and rage associated with the New Wave Rock. But Costello's reverence for his Rock 'n' Roll roots is constantly apparent, providing him with the vital element that elevates him beyond most New Wave acts — he's got soul (the same soul that nurtured early R 'n' R). Since the British artist first evolved on the music scene in 1977, enjoying the overnight fame from his first LP My Aim is True, he has shrewdly blended these elements.
The latest album, Costello's fifth on the Columbia label, is entitled Taking Liberties. Like the previous Get Happy, it has a total of 20 songs (18 of which he wrote). All of the material has been previously released and is a compilation of rare B-sides, English album cuts, and collectors' items that hadn't appeared on a Columbia LP until now. The complex variety of cuts are tastefully arranged to sound fresh and exciting.
This LP greatly emphasizes the flexibility of Costello and his band the Attractions. Costello's vocals smoothly adapt to and control each song. The hard-driving "Clean Money," the country wailing of "Stranger in the House," the Rhythm and Blues tempo of the old Van McCoy hit "Getting Mighty Crowded" (similar to the "I Can't Stand up for Falling Down" melody on the Get Happy LP), and the surprisingly sensitive Rodgers & Hart composition "My Funny Valentine," proves that tiring of this disc will be difficult.
Snappy melodies are complimented by profound lyrics full of Randy Newman-like bitter sarcasm: "Don't you know / Big tears mean nothin / You can count them as they fall / when your lying in your coffin / Tell me, whose been taken in"
Then his vulnerability is revealed when be becomes the loser in love's game: "I get this feelin' that I don't belong here / But there's no welcome in the window anyway / And I look for a number on my keychain / Cause it feels more like a hotel everyday."
| 
