Bend Bulletin, October 2, 1986: Difference between revisions
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If you were a fan of Elvis Costello's late-'70s albums, from ''My Aim Is True'' through ''Armed Forces'', the new ''Blood | If you were a fan of Elvis Costello's late-'70s albums, from ''My Aim Is True'' through ''Armed Forces'', the new ''Blood & Chocolate'' is the LP you've been waiting seven years for him to deliver. | ||
In those early collections, the Englishman established himself as one of rock's most compelling songwriters: His clever, seductive wordplay would have caught the ear of Cole Porter, and his sharp-witted bite might even cause Bob Dylan to think twice about getting into a verbal showdown with him. | In those early collections, the Englishman established himself as one of rock's most compelling songwriters: His clever, seductive wordplay would have caught the ear of Cole Porter, and his sharp-witted bite might even cause Bob Dylan to think twice about getting into a verbal showdown with him. | ||
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But Costello stumbled in slight, subtle ways after ''Armed Forces''. While continuing to do frequently excellent work, he tended to put out so many albums and move in so many different directions that even his most loyal fans were sometimes puzzled or exasperated. | But Costello stumbled in slight, subtle ways after ''Armed Forces''. While continuing to do frequently excellent work, he tended to put out so many albums and move in so many different directions that even his most loyal fans were sometimes puzzled or exasperated. | ||
That is why ''Blood | That is why ''Blood & Chocolate'' is such cause for celebration. It steps forward with the same consistency, passion, intensity and unbridled arrogance as ''Armed Forces''. | ||
After bulldozing his way into the Top 10 with ''Armed Forces'', Costello began a series of odd career twists — all in the name of ''artistic independence''. That is a phrase you have to be wary of in pop music. It can be a badge of honor or a cop-out. | After bulldozing his way into the Top 10 with ''Armed Forces'', Costello began a series of odd career twists — all in the name of ''artistic independence''. That is a phrase you have to be wary of in pop music. It can be a badge of honor or a cop-out. | ||
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The music in the album returns in places to the captivating and confident, organ-and-guitar-accented swirl of ''Armed Forces''. Yet it also includes softer, though hardly less intense, acoustic passages. | The music in the album returns in places to the captivating and confident, organ-and-guitar-accented swirl of ''Armed Forces''. Yet it also includes softer, though hardly less intense, acoustic passages. | ||
One of the album's central themes is man's capacity to endure. There are people and situations in ''Blood | One of the album's central themes is man's capacity to endure. There are people and situations in ''Blood & Chocolate'' as dark, despairing and hopeless as those in Springsteen's ''Nebraska''. Still, life goes on. | ||
The real horror, Costello suggests, is in not facing the truth. | The real horror, Costello suggests, is in not facing the truth. | ||
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At one point, he declares: ''"The truth can't hurt you — It's just like the dark — It scares you witless — But in time you see things clear and stark."'' | At one point, he declares: ''"The truth can't hurt you — It's just like the dark — It scares you witless — But in time you see things clear and stark."'' | ||
The ''Blood | The ''Blood & Chocolate'' album title may not tell us much about Costello's attitude these days, but there is plenty of exposition in the songs themselves. In fact, Costello's artistic pulse is so alive again that the appropriate subtitle may be "Welcome Back." | ||
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'''The Bulletin, October 2, 1986 | '''The Bulletin, October 2, 1986 | ||
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[[Robert Hilburn]] reviews ''[[Blood & Chocolate]]''. | [[Robert Hilburn]] reviews ''[[Blood & Chocolate]]''. | ||
<span style="font-size:92%">{For the unedited version of this review, see the [[Los Angeles Times, September 28, 1986|''LA Times'', Sept. 28, 1986]].)</span> | |||
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Latest revision as of 14:44, 9 January 2022
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