The Nation, December 21, 2009

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The Nation

US magazines
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Elvis Costello: Spectacle


Eric Alterman

Extract:

Season Two of Elvis Costello's wonderful show Spectacle began last week, with special guests Bono and The Edge. Here is what was performed for the show:

01. Please -- EC & The Imposters
02. Dirty Day -- EC & The Imposters
03. Mysterious Ways -- EC & The Imposters
04. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) -- Bono & The Edge
05. Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad -- Bono with Davey Faragher & Pete Thomas
06. Alison -- EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters
07. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of -- EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters
08. Pump It Up / Get On Your Boots -- EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters

Here is what we got to see:

03. Mysterious Ways -- EC & The Imposters
04. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) -- Bono & The Edge
05. Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad -- Bono with Davey Faragher & Pete Thomas
07. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of -- EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters
08. Pump It Up / Get On Your Boots -- EC, Bono, The Edge & The Imposters

I guess we’ll have to wait for its DVD release to see the unaired footage… or not.

And so it goes with the first season’s release on DVD. Every episode in its 5.1 glory and barely any additional material, 4 songs, over 650 minutes, to be exact. Really a disappointment. Isn’t this the type of thing DVDs were made for?

That not-so little complaint aside, Costello and his guests ranging from President Bill Clinton to The Police to Kris Kristofferson and Smokey Robinson, sit around for an hour of truly compelling conversation and even more wonderful music collaborations. The "guitar pull" episode featuring Rosanne Cash, Kristofferson, John Mellencamp, Norah Jones was one of my favorite television moments ever. Elton and Elvis performing the David Ackles masterpiece "Down River," is just one more of many highlights of this brilliant series. Even guests like Renee Fleming, a major star but not someone I have much interest in, made for incredible television. The Spectacle DVD set could have been my favorite set of the year, but with so few extras, it just annoys me. Sorry for whining, but I'd like some answers.

Eric adds. Like Sal, I'm pissed about the lack of outtakes. But I'm also pissed about the fact that you cant watch only the music. That would have been easy. Even the crappy Rock and Roll Hall of Fame collection figured out how to do this. Here they took this terrific TV and then just slapped it on the discs without giving it any further thought. Ill live, but this is really a missed opportunity. (Oh, and I was there for that guitar pull at the Apollo. Its sad to think about what's missing)

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The Nation, December 21, 2009


Eric Alterman reviews the first episode of the second season of Spectacle and the DVD release of season 1.


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