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Brutal Youth reunites Costello with his Attractions, the band that backed him up so solidly in the days when no one made pop music with more punch.
From This Year's Model in 1978 through Blood & Chocolate in 1986, The Attractions — drummer Pete Thomas, bassist Bruce Thomas and keyboard player Steve Nieve — and their spare, economical arrangements kept Costello percolating at or near the top of his form.
Costello may have had some regrets about ditching the band, as he hasn't exactly enjoyed a great run of successes in the past eight years. The lowest point may have been last year's collaboration with a string quartet that produced The Juliet Letters. The good news is that Brutal Youth is clearly Costello's best work in years.
It's great to hear Costello playing with his old mates again, even if long-time chum Nick Lowe actually plays bass on more tracks than Bruce Thomas.
Don't listen too carefully, and it's a welcome trip down memory lane, with a few exciting twists and turns. listen closer, however, and you'll find that Costello isn't cranking out the songs at quite the same artistic level.
The lyrics, especially, don't show as much wit, as much bite as they did in the heady early years. Best songs are "Kinder Murder," "13 Steps Lead Down" and "All the Rage."
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