Victoria Advocate, February 21, 1986

From The Elvis Costello Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
... Bibliography ...
727677787980818283
848586878889909192
939495969798990001
020304050607080910
111213141516171819
202122232425 26 27 28


Victoria Advocate

Texas publications

Newspapers

University publications

Magazines and alt. weeklies


US publications by state
  • ALAKARAZCA
  • COCTDCDEFL
  • GAHI   IA      ID      IL
  • IN   KSKYLA   MA
  • MDME   MIMNMO
  • MSMTNC  ND  NE
  • NHNJNMNVNY
  • OHOKORPARI
  • SCSDTNTXUT
  • VAVTWAWIWY

-

King Of America

Elvis Costello

Chris Willman

Elvis Costello has more than once professed a disdain for things America, yet often seems to aspire to nothing more than being one. At times he would have us believe he is merely a country-Western crooner or a soul-shouter trapped in an angry young Englishman's body.

That irony is hardly lost on Costello himself, as evidenced by the sly title of his new album "King of America" (Columbia), his first collection of original material to draw so thoroughly on indigenous American country, folk and blues.

There are strengths and drawbacks in his approach towards traditional material: He is too dry, too intellectual - maybe too English, if you will - to make you cry the way his Nashville idols might, but the subtle, dazzling wordplay he brings to the form is worth the trade-off.

The overly fussy pop arrangements of his last album "Goodbye Cruel World," have been replaced with a spare sound involving plenty of stand-up bass and Hammond organ and brushes and rim shots, with a little unobtrusive dobro or accordion here and there.

The traditional minimalism of the arrangements is enticing even when the sentiments are oblique and alienating. When Costello's coldest lyrics combine with the warmest of all musical styles, it is an interesting collision.

It is a Spocklike battle between rationality and emotion that provides the most arresting moments, and in this alternately brilliant and aggravating LP, the uneasy matching has become externalized in the merger of word and style as well.


Tags:  King Of AmericaGoodbye Cruel World

-

Victoria Advocate, February 21, 1986


Chris Willman reviews King Of America. (from LA Times, Feb. 16, 1986)

Images

1986-02-21 Victoria Advocate page 10D clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.

1986-02-21 Victoria Advocate page 10D.jpg
Page scan.

-



Back to top

External links