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Elvis Costello seems to have mellowed with each record he has released.
Gone is the "angry young man" stance that got him so much attention years ago.
Fortunately, this change in attitude has not affected the quality of his latest releases. Granted, the recent records are more melodic and slower, but Costello's songs still pack a certain punch.
The newest record, Goodbye Cruel World, is not depressing or dirge-like as the title suggests. The songs are catchy but also make for easy listening, unlike his earliest releases, My Aim is True and This Year's Model.
In fact, this latest release is much more like Imperial Bedroom in tempo and style.
As with Costello's previous albums, this record is quite long — 13 songs in all. And for once a legible lyric sheet is provided. This time the words do not run together as they did on Imperial Bedroom and are not printed in microscopic type as they were on Punch the Clock.
Costello's lyrics are still somewhat clever and cynical. However, the tempo on Goodbye Cruel World is slow and relaxed.
Contributing to the record's feel is Costello's band, the Attractions. They are Pete Thomas on drums and Bruce Thomas on bass — the same lineup he's been using since the band's inception, except that keyboardist Steve Nieve is not credited on this album, although synthesizers and keyboards can be heard throughout.
But despite the missing Attraction, Goodbye Cruel World is good. It contains a collection of intriguing, addictive songs.
The album opens with "The Only Flame in Town," featuring a wailing saxophone and backing vocals by Daryl Hall. This catchy song sounds like a hit, but judging from the airplay Costello usually gets, it won't be.
"The Worthless Thing" has Costello's usual clever lyrics: "Oh I wish you could see / Quite how much you mean to me / You worthless' thing / If you were 10 feet taller and almost handsome."
"Love Field" is one of several flowing, mesmerizing songs that sounds like something from Imperial Bedroom. "I Wanna be Loved" has an uptempo beat, but is far too long. Also, the vocals are weak on this cover song; they sound like a bad imitation of a Bee Gees falsetto.
A fun, snappy song, "The Comedians," has a quick tempo that seems to skip a beat.
But perhaps the fastest song on Goodbye Cruel World is "The Deportees Club." In this typically clever tale of a useless club, Costello sings "All your troubles you confess to another faceless backless dress."
Overall, this new record has a variety of tempos and moods. The feel of the record is mellow and relaxed, almost background music. But Goodbye Cruel World is too good for that. This is a record worth listening to.
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