Melody Maker, May 18, 1991: Difference between revisions
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Yet it's "How To Be Dumb" that odds heartstrings to the bow. Words play second fiddle to viciously vindictive swoops of chords. "All Grown Up" is gentler, but deceptive — again he's dissecting the heroine with no mean literacy. Because, one assumes, she merits some attention. "Invasion Hit Parade," another Beatles burlesque, manages to chide not only Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes but also those, ''"Playing their Doors records and pretending to be stoned".'' My, he was quick off the mark there. | Yet it's "How To Be Dumb" that odds heartstrings to the bow. Words play second fiddle to viciously vindictive swoops of chords. "All Grown Up" is gentler, but deceptive — again he's dissecting the heroine with no mean literacy. Because, one assumes, she merits some attention. "Invasion Hit Parade," another Beatles burlesque, manages to chide not only Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes but also those, ''"Playing their Doors records and pretending to be stoned".'' My, he was quick off the mark there. | ||
Nearly every track tells the story of a he and a she, invariably mismatched and juggling desire and despair. "So Like Candy" is the simplest and most graceful. "Playboy To A Man" is a superbly sinuous jumble, a tirade and a trance. "Broken", his wife's composition, is sparse and vocal and eerie, a "Song To The Siren" that doesn't entirely reach her. It'd be nice if now and again he allowed the musk to do the talking, but "Sweet Pear" concludes with perhaps the key line to Costello's roaring, ravenous, resurrection | Nearly every track tells the story of a he and a she, invariably mismatched and juggling desire and despair. "So Like Candy" is the simplest and most graceful. "Playboy To A Man" is a superbly sinuous jumble, a tirade and a trance. "Broken", his wife's composition, is sparse and vocal and eerie, a "Song To The Siren" that doesn't entirely reach her. It'd be nice if now and again he allowed the musk to do the talking, but "Sweet Pear" concludes with perhaps the key line to Costello's roaring, ravenous, resurrection — ''"I am your stupid lover, your wretched groom."'' His funeral, her trial? The dedication says: "To Cait, my unspeakable wife." | ||
I'm sure Elvis Costello has a sense of humour. Thankfully he keeps it well away from this triumphant record, moments of which cause me to involuntarily close my eyes and shiver. A relentless, arrogant, furious catalogue of complaints and counterattacks. I was wrong, and I'm beautifully-formed enough to admit it. The man's a bloodied love saint from the depths. | I'm sure Elvis Costello has a sense of humour. Thankfully he keeps it well away from this triumphant record, moments of which cause me to involuntarily close my eyes and shiver. A relentless, arrogant, furious catalogue of complaints and counterattacks. I was wrong, and I'm beautifully-formed enough to admit it. The man's a bloodied love saint from the depths. | ||
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Revision as of 13:26, 30 April 2014
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