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Elvis Costello is back with The Attractions, and back on familiar territory.
All This Useless Beauty is potentially a Costello classic, combining clever songwriting with thumping back beats and a large dose of genuine emotion.
There is less of the angry young man that was present in the earlier collaborations with the Attractions, and Costello has matured through his own work on Spike and Mighty Like A Rose.
The new album reflects a bizarre selection of influences. "Starting To Come To Me" has elements of Cajun carnival, and "Poor Fractured Atlas" glides on a classical theme.
On first listening, "Little Atoms" jumps out as single material along with the foot-stomping "Shallow Grave."
The title track leaves a little to be desired in comparison to the rest of the album, but is still worth a listen.
The same themes follow through Costello's work, the daily detail of relationships beginning and ending, and All This Useless Beauty is no different.
"It's Time" is a Dear John letter set to music and is a compliment to Costello's ability — he makes bitterness sound so sweet.
"I Want to Vanish" provides a poignant footnote to the album, tailing off, rather than stomping out.
All This Useless Beauty is worth a listen for people new to Elvis Costello as well as his die-hard fans. And as a final message, to quote "Little Atoms": "If you do not like my song, then you can just go to hell."
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