|
If Woody Allen had wanted to be Elvis Presley instead of Humphrey Bogart the result would have been a rock 'n' roll singer like Elvis Costello. It's not just that Costello bears an uncanny physical resemblance to Allen; the comparison arises because he brings the same witty intelligence to rock music that Woody Allen has bestowed upon the cinema.
A few quotes from reviews in the non-music press give some idea of the high esteem in which he is held. The Guardian said that his lyrics were "the best from a new British artist in years" and The Washington Post said that he was "a lot more important than the Rolling Stones." Even Rolling Stone, the bible of the music business, was moved to declare that "genius has found its way into Costello's songs."
The subject of these rave notices was in Dublin last night at the old Stella cinema in Rathmines, giving his first rock concert in this country. With him was his new band, the Attractions, and the reception accorded to them could only be termed ecstatic. (But then his people do hail from the auld sod).
It's hard to believe now, but a mere two years ago he was looked upon as a kind of freak, an oddity in heavy-rimmed glasses and drainpipe suits singing the kind of rock 'n' roll that came out of Tin Pan Alley in the late '50s.
Or so it seemed until people began to listen to his music and particularly to his lyrics. To those who actually listened it soon became obvious that this was not something to be dismissed with the rest of the moronic punk wave. If he was punk, then it was "intellectual punk."
With such little competition, it's not surprising that he did so well. Even his first album reached number 11 in the charts and his current album, This Year's Model (Radar) is likely to do even better.
If you missed last night's concert then a listen to this album is essential if you want to keep abreast of the new wave rock. Tracks like "Lipstick Vogue" and "Chelsea" are about as good as you will find in literate rock these days. As Mr Costello himself says: "I don't want to be loved because I'm as worthless as anyone else. But I do think my songs are great."
| 
