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All This Useless Beauty is Elvis Costello's best record of the '90s, a vital piece of pop craftsmanship that harkens back to his 1982 masterpiece, Imperial Bedroom.
With the Attractions, and especially keyboardist Steve Nieve, back and up front, Costello spins out a ballad-heavy disc of a dozen smartly written tunes full of biting putdowns, unnerving self-doubt, quirky stories and memorable phrases.
Three of the cuts here had their beginnings elsewhere — "The Other End of the Telescope" comes from a collaboration with Aimee Mann, the noisy "Shallow Grave" was penned with Paul McCartney and "You Bowed Down" retains the Byrdsy ring given to it by Roger McGuinn.
But those songs fit perfectly with the new material, which is characterized by beautifully drawn melodies in lush, perfectly played settings and Costello's best singing ever.
All This Useless Beauty could use another rocker or two — The Attractions really can make wonderful noise. But that's no knock on the great, rewarding pop that fills the record.
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