From The Elvis Costello Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
—
|
Get Happy!!
Elvis Costello
Chris Desjardins
|
One big point in their favor is there are an awful lot of songs: twenty tunes, most being under two minutes long. One big point not in their favor is that fourteen or fifteen aren't complete. Even after the fifth or sixth listen, I kept looking for something to grab onto. That's speaking as objectively as I can manage. Because, frankly, I've finally figured out one of the things that's always bothered me about Elvis: his voice. He doesn't sing badly, I'm just not that crazy about all the little tricks he's unconsciously picked up along the way from the likes of Bob Dylan. It sounds wrong alot of the time and is not to my taste. Another bone I have to pick is that album by album (even as the songs themselves have been getting better) the guitars have been mixed down to nothing. Everything floats along on a sea of organ, bass and drums which is only occasionally inspiring. Holes in songs that could be plugged to their advantage by more dynamic guitar are left floundering by the wayside and, as a result, run out of steam. Funny that the few exceptions come awfully close to being great. I liked "King Horse" the best, then others "New Amsterdam," "Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" and "I Stand Accused." As usual Elvis' words are the best thing about him but this time around there isn't the same crystalline focus or concentration at work.
|
|
Page scan.
Cover.
|
|
|
|
External links
