|
Elvis is alive and well. It didn't take a psychic or a Ouija board to figure that out. All it took was a listen to his latest album, Spike
Spike is Elvis Costello's twelfth album, making Elvis one of the most prolific artists around today. His thirteen years in the music business have resulted in unforgettable songs hie "Alison; "Watching the Detectives" and "Oliver's Army."
Elvis has flirted with various musical personas over the years. From rock 'n' roll to country and western, Elvis has spanned most musical genres. He even performed in concert with his backing band the Attractions, plus the 92-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall.
On Spike, Elvis returns to familiar musical territory. The work on this album is similar in tone to his early release, Imperial Bedroom; an album many critics consider to be his finest. Yet, where Imperial Bedroom was cutting edge, Spike is melodic and mature.
Elvis is writing musk for a older alternative crowd. He is no longer the angry, intelligent prophet of the 80s. He is musical solace for the generation who grew up with punk, but are now thirtysomething and have a few kids.
Spike, which will undoubtedly be a big hit, is not the standard college radio fodder that Elvis has always produced. It is a wonderful album, better than more than half the musical trash flooding the market these days. But this is a mellow Elvis — gone are the sting and energy that his music used to possess.
The 14 songs on Spike are rich in texture. Elvis makes use of horns, fiddles, pianos, various types of guitars and bases, mandolin and xylophones to produce the desired effects. The workmanship shines through, explaining why Elvis blew his entire advance from Warner Ems. producing and recording this album.
The music might be mellow, but Costello's pen is still mighty, and as sharp and biting as ever. He attacks capital punishment, infidelity and mail-order marriages. On "Tramp the Dirt Down," a beautifully. haunting song about Prime Minister Thatcher, in which Elvis sings that he'd "like to live long enough to savour / That's when they finally pat you into the ground / I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down".
There are a number of notable musical guests on this album. Paul McCartney plays bass and shares songwriting credits on the pleasantly pop-py number "Veronica" and "Pads, Paws and Claws." Elvis' wife and former Pogue Cait O'Riordan co-wrote the tune "Baby Plays Around.* Chrissy Hynde of the Pretenders contributes some chilling harmonies and backing vocals to the well-composed "Satellites." Mitchell Fromm, best known for his production and keyboard work on Crowded House's two albums, plays keyboards, piano and organ on Spike.
This album is sure to please most Costello fans. It's a mature and somewhat daring adventure from him. But no matter how anti-establishment Elvis has been over the years, he has always remained a crowd-pleaser.
| 
