|
After a period of exploring different musical directions that resulted in several spotty albums, Elvis Costello has returned to the sound that brought him his earlier success on Blood & Chocolate. Long-time producer and collaborator Nick Lowe returns to the helm, and the result is Costello's best album in several years.
The sound here is much-simplified and stripped-down from the kitchen-sink production used on some of his recent albums. The horns and strings have been pared away from the mix, leaving just the essentials: forceful guitars, Steve Nieve's bouncy organ riffs and Elvis' distinctive, "love it or hate it" voice
Some of the tracks here stand with the best of Costello's works. On "I Hope You're Happy Now," Costello regains some of the vocal bite that was once his hallmark, while the Attractions play with a fervor they've not displayed on record in some time. "Next Time 'Round" is another excellent track, featuring a nifty organ line and laced with some solid guitar work.
The album is not without a few dull moments. "I Want You" is about four minutes too long at 6:38. Instead of building tension, its repetitive chorus just becomes boring.
And "Tokyo Storm Warning," while filled with interesting lyrical imagery, is an another overlong and repetitive track, with a prosaic melody lifted from Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee."
Those quibbles aside, Blood & Chocolate is an impressive, varied work that's guaranteed to please Costello fans.
| 
