Fresno Bee, May 17, 1991

From The Elvis Costello Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
... Bibliography ...
727677787980818283
848586878889909192
939495969798990001
020304050607080910
111213141516171819
202122232425 26 27 28


Fresno Bee

California publications

Newspapers

University publications

Magazines and alt. weeklies


US publications by state
  • ALAKARAZCA
  • COCTDCDEFL
  • GAHI   IA      ID      IL
  • IN   KSKYLA   MA
  • MDME   MIMNMO
  • MSMTNC  ND  NE
  • NHNJNMNVNY
  • OHOKORPARI
  • SCSDTNTXUT
  • VAVTWAWIWY

-

Costello's 'Rose' is well-nourished but fails to show signs of growth


Don Mayhew

Elvis Costello / Mighty Like A Rose

Elvis Costello's diffuse Mighty Like a Rose, in stores this week, could have been subtitled "The Story Thus Far." Not only does his first album in two years contain the usual Costello witticisms and barbs, but many of its songs echo previous efforts.

The determined syncopation of "Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)" is reminiscent of 1981's "Lover's Walk." The bursts of tinny cacophony on "Couldn't Call It Unexpected, Pt. 2" and toward the end of "How To Be Dumb" would have been at home on 1982's Imperial Bedroom. Other songs have the crisp drumming, slashing guitars and spare, insistent organs of Costello's recordings during the early '80s with the Attractions.

This time, Costello has assembled a diverse but not necessarily complementary gang of esteemed musicians, among them guitarist James Burton, keyboard players Mitchell Froom and Benmont Tench, drummer Pete Thomas (of the Attractions), bassist Nick Lowe and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Costello co-wrote two of the album's best songs ("So Like Candy" and "Playboy to a Man") with Paul McCartney. Cait O'Riordan contributed another ("Broken").

The result is a smartly crafted album that has moments of intrigue, humor, ire and gloom. But Mighty Like a Rose is not as focused and captivating as Costello's best work

"The Other Side of Summer," the opening track and first single, starts off sparsely and builds upon soft Beach Boys vocal harmonies until it's so dense you feel as if you've arrived on a boardwalk. The noisy layers hide one of Costello's blandest melodies.

Other songs have a distinct carnival feel, swirling with the processional twinkle of a carousel ride. Costello is appropriately chatty double-entendres and acrimony whiz past.

Life isn't all fun and midway games, and Costello's romantic broodings range from exotic ("After the Fall") to obsessive ("So Like Candy") to haunting ("Broken").

Filled with self-doubt, all three are deliberately paced and sung, quiet but tense because of the way Costello seems to be carefully choosing his words as he goes along.

But while his singing is as good as ever, Costello offers few new twists, recycling ideas and allowing some songs to become annoying self-referential.

The music on Mighty Like a Rose also tends toward big, dramatic moments, at odds with Costello's naturally pithy manner, which is sharpest when it's most succinct.

He also takes a jab at John Lennon on "The Other Side of Summer" ("Was it a millionaire who said, 'Imagine no possessions'?"), which seems strange, because on "Hurry Down Doomsday" and "Playboy to a Man" he invokes the kind of primal, howling rant that punctuated Lennon's solo work.

Mighty Like a Rose is purposely anachronistic. Not only does Costello ignore trends like hip-hop and psychedelic revivalism, but he continues to experiment with instruments (like banjos and clarinets) unusual for rock 'n' roll.

By the mid-'80s, Costello had produced 11 studio albums in about nine years, putting a strain on his prolific songwriting. His albums had become erratic, and a change of pace was in order.

But slowing his artistic metabolism (Mighty Like a Rose is his second album in four years) hasn't rejuvenated his music, merely stabilized it.


Tags: Mighty Like A RoseHurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)The Other Side Of SummerCouldn't Call It Unexpected, Pt. 2How To Be DumbSo Like CandyPlayboy To A ManAfter The FallBrokenJames BurtonMitchell FroomBenmont TenchPete ThomasNick LoweDirty Dozen Brass BandPaul McCartneyCait O'RiordanThe Beach BoysImperial BedroomThe AttractionsLovers WalkJohn Lennon

-
<< >>

Fresno Bee, May 17, 1991


Don Mayhew reviews Mighty Like A Rose.

Images

1991-05-17 Fresno Bee page E9 clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.

Page scan.
1991-05-17 Fresno Bee page E9.jpg

-



Back to top

External links